STAT3 and leukemia: Because previous studies have indicated that many signaling molecules and pathways appear to have a role in VSMC phenotypic switching induced by lactate28, and that STAT3 activation (Tyr705 phosphorylation) is essential for CD123 expression in mouse leukemia cells29, we sought to determine which signaling pathways are involved in glycolysis-induced phenotypic switching of VSMCs.