Increased cytoplasmic levels of CIS, SOCS1, SOCS2, or SOCS3 are required for nuclear translocation

We investigated the cellular localization of ectopically-expressed CIS, SOCS1, SOCS2 and SOCS3 proteins. We found that SOCS proteins localize to the nucleus where they reduce Stat3 proteins and that the presence of proteasome inhibitors increased SOCS nuclear localization. Our results indicate that increased nuclear localization resulted from increased levels of SOCS proteins in the cytoplasm. Finally, we demonstrate that the same effect occurs with endogenously-expressed SOCS proteins. These observations suggest that increased cytoplasmic levels of proteins in the SOCS family are regulated through nuclear translocation.     

SOCS1 and SOCS3 are targeted by hepatitis C virus core/gC1qR ligation to inhibit T-cell function

T cells play an important role in the control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We have previously demonstrated that the HCV core inhibits T-cell responses through interaction with gC1qR. We show here that core proteins from chronic and resolved HCV patients differ in sequence, gC1qR-binding ability, and T-cell inhibition. Specifically, chronic core isolates bind to gC1qR more efficiently and inhibit T-cell proliferation as well as gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production more profoundly than resolved core isolates. This inhibition is mediated by the disruption of STAT phosphorylation through the induction of SOCS molecules. Silencing either SOCS1 or SOCS3 by small interfering RNA dramatically augments the production of IFN-gamma in T cells, thereby abrogating the inhibitory effect of core. Additionally, the ability of core proteins from patients with chronic infections to induce SOCS proteins and suppress STAT activation greatly exceeds that of core proteins from patients with resolved infections. These results suggest that the HCV core/gC1qR-induced T-cell dysfunction involves the induction of SOCS, a powerful inhibitor of cytokine signaling, which represents a novel mechanism by which a virus usurps the host machinery for persistence.     

SOCS1 deficiency causes a lymphocyte-dependent perinatal lethality.

SOCS1 is an SH2-containing protein that is primarily expressed in thymocytes in a cytokine- and T cell receptor-independent manner. SOCS1 deletion causes perinatal lethality with death by 2-3 weeks. During this period thymic changes include a loss of cellularity and a switch from predominantly CD4+ CD8+ to single positive cells. Peripheral T cells express activation antigens and proliferate to IL-2 in the absence of anti-CD3. In addition, IFNgamma is present in the serum. Reconstitution of the lymphoid lineage of JAK3-deficient mice with SOCS1-deficient stem cells recapitulates the lethality and T cell alterations. Introducing a RAG2 or IFNgamma deficiency eliminates lethality. The results demonstrate that lymphocytes are critical to SOCS1-associated perinatal lethality and implicate SOCS1 in lymphocyte differentiation or regulation.     

SOCS1基因修饰树突状细胞在肿瘤治疗中的研究进展

树突状细胞是功能最强的抗原提呈细胞,是启动、调节及维持免疫应答的核心环节,以树突状细胞为基础的肿瘤疫苗被认为是最具潜能的肿瘤免疫治疗手段。细胞因子信号通路抑制因子1（suppressor ofcytokine signaling1,SOCS1）是细胞因子信号通路抑制因子（suppressor of cytokine signaling,SOCS）家族的重要成员,广泛参与树突状细胞的发生、成熟和活化,具有负调控树突状细胞功能的重要作用。SOCS1沉默的树突状细胞能够促进自身成熟并增强其诱导的T细胞的抗肿瘤活性。现就国内外关于树突状细胞功能研究及基因修饰的肿瘤疫苗临床试验作一综述,以期对未来的研究有所帮助。     

SOCS-1基因与宫颈癌关系的研究新进展

SOCS-1基因定位在染色体16p13.3,编码的SOCS-1蛋白是细胞因子信号转导抑制因子(SOCS)家族的成员之一,最初研究认为SOCS-1主要通过对JAK/STAT信号通路的负性调节从而对多种细胞因子、激素的进行调节,近来有研究表明SOCS-1同样能下调TLR信号通路的活性.细胞因子及TLR信号通路在细胞的生长、成熟、分化及机体的免疫调节中发挥了重要的作用.在多种恶性肿瘤中研究显示SOCS-1呈现基因广泛甲基化及蛋白表达缺失,致JAK/STAT通路的持续活化,与肿瘤的发生发展有关,提示SOCS-1的作用类似于抑癌基因,而在一些肿瘤中则见SOCS-1的高表达,SOCS-1在肿瘤中的作用机制仍存在争议.近年来SOCS-1在宫颈癌中的作用得到重视,但其作用机制尚未明确.而HPV感染可能促进了SOCS-1基因的异常表达,SOCS-1的沉默在宫颈癌的发生发展中可能发挥了重要作用.     

Targeting Lyn tyrosine kinase through protein fusions encompassing motifs of Cbp (Csk-binding protein) and the SOCS box of SOCS1

The tyrosine kinase Lyn is involved in oncogenic signalling in several leukaemias and solid tumours, and we have previously identified a pathway centred on Cbp [Csk (C-terminal Src kinase)-binding protein] that mediates both enzymatic inactivation, as well as proteasomal degradation of Lyn via phosphorylation-dependent recruitment of Csk (responsible for phosphorylating the inhibitory C-terminal tyrosine of Lyn) and SOCS1 (suppressor of cytokine signalling 1; an E3 ubiquitin ligase). In the present study we show that fusing specific functional motifs of Cbp and domains of SOCS1 together generates a novel molecule capable of directing the proteasomal degradation of Lyn. We have characterized the binding of pY (phospho-tyrosine) motifs of Cbp to SFK (Src-family kinase) SH2 (Src homology 2) domains, identifying those with high affinity and specificity for the SH2 domain of Lyn and that are preferred substrates of active Lyn. We then fused them to the SB (SOCS box) of SOCS1 to facilitate interaction with the ubiquitination-promoting elongin B/C complex. As an eGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) fusion, these proteins can direct the polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of active Lyn. Expressing this fusion protein in DU145 cancer cells (but not LNCaP or MCF-7 cells), that require Lyn signalling for survival, promotes loss of Lyn, loss of caspase 3, appearance of an apoptotic morphology and failure to survive/expand. These findings show how functional domains of Cbp and SOCS1 can be fused together to generate molecules capable of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells that express high levels of active Lyn.     

Requirement for microtubule integrity in the SOCS1-mediated intracellular dynamics of HIV-1 Gag

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) is a recently identified host factor that positively regulates the intracellular trafficking and stability of HIV-1 Gag. We here examine the molecular mechanism by which SOCS1 regulates intercellular Gag trafficking and virus particle production. We find that SOCS1 colocalizes with Gag along the microtubule network and promotes microtubule stability. SOCS1 also increases the amount of Gag associated with microtubules. Both nocodazole treatment and the expression of the microtubule-destabilizing protein, stathmin, inhibit the enhancement of HIV-1 particle production by SOCS1. SOCS1 facilitates Gag ubiquitination and the co-expression of a dominant-negative ubiquitin significantly inhibits the association of Gag with microtubules. We thus propose that the microtubule network plays a role in SOCS1-mediated HIV-1 Gag transport and virus particle formation.

Structured summary

MINT-7014185: Gag (uniprotkb:P05888) and SOCS1 (uniprotkb:O15524) colocalize (MI:0403) by cosedimentation (MI:0027)MINT-7014239: Cullin 2 (uniprotkb:Q13617) physically interacts (MI:0218) with RelA (uniprotkb:Q04206), RBX1 (uniprotkb:P62877), SOCS1 (uniprotkb:O15524), elongin B (uniprotkb:Q15369) and elongin C (uniprotkb:Q15370) by pull-down (MI:0096)MINT-7014046: gag (uniprotkb:P05888), SOCS1 (uniprotkb:O15524) and tubulin alpha (uniprotkb:Q13748) colocalize (MI:0403) by fluorescence microscopy (MI:0416)MINT-7014269: tubulin alpha (uniprotkb:Q13748) physically interacts (MI:0218) with Gag (uniprotkb:P05888) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)MINT-7014036: tubulin alpha (uniprotkb:Q13748) and SOCS1 (uniprotkb:O15524) colocalize (MI:0403) by fluorescence microscopy (MI:0416)MINT-7014201: Cullin 2 (uniprotkb:Q13617) physically interacts (MI:0218) with RBX1 (uniprotkb:P62877), SOCS1 (uniprotkb:O15524), elongin B (uniprotkb:Q15369) and elongin C (uniprotkb:Q15370) by pull-down (MI:0096)MINT-7014257: Gag (uniprotkb:P05888) physically interacts (MI:0218) with Ubiquitin (uniprotkb:P62988) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)MINT-7014221: Cullin 2 (uniprotkb:Q13617) physically interacts (MI:0218) with Gag (uniprotkb:P05888), elongin C (uniprotkb:Q15370), elongin B (uniprotkb:Q15369), SOCS1 (uniprotkb:O15524) and RBX1 (uniprotkb:P62877) by pull-down (MI:0096)     

Cutting edge: innate immune response triggered by influenza A virus is negatively regulated by SOCS1 and SOCS3 through a RIG-I/IFNAR1-dependent pathway

Influenza A virus (IAV) triggers a contagious respiratory disease that produces considerable lethality. Although this lethality is likely due to an excessive host inflammatory response, the negative feedback mechanisms aimed at regulating such a response are unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of the eight "suppressor of cytokine signaling" (SOCS) regulatory proteins in IAV-triggered cytokine expression in human respiratory epithelial cells. SOCS1 to SOCS7, but not cytokine-inducible Src homology 2-containing protein (CIS), are constitutively expressed in these cells and only SOCS1 and SOCS3 expressions are up-regulated upon IAV challenge. Using distinct approaches affecting the expression and/or the function of the IFNalphabeta receptor (IFNAR)1, the viral sensors TLR3 and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) as well as the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS, a RIG-I signaling intermediate), we demonstrated that SOCS1 and SOCS3 up-regulation requires a TLR3-independent, RIG-I/MAVS/IFNAR1-dependent pathway. Importantly, by using vectors overexpressing SOCS1 and SOCS3 we revealed that while both molecules inhibit antiviral responses, they differentially modulate inflammatory signaling pathways.     

Human microRNA‐30 inhibits influenza virus infection by suppressing the expression of SOCS1, SOCS3, and NEDD4

Influenza A virus (IAV) has evolved multiple mechanisms to compromise type I interferon (IFN) responses. The antiviral function of IFN is mainly exerted by activating the JAK/STAT signalling and subsequently inducing IFN‐stimulated gene (ISG) production. However, the mechanism by which IAV combat the type I IFN signalling pathway is not fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the roles of human microRNAs modulated by IAV infection in type I IFN responses. We demonstrated that microRNA‐30 (miR‐30) family members were downregulated by IAV infection. Our data showed that the forced expression of miR‐30 family members inhibited IAV proliferation, while miR‐30 family member inhibitors promoted IAV proliferation. Mechanistically, we found that miR‐30 family members targeted and reduced SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression, and thus relieved their inhibiting effects on IFN/JAK/STAT signalling pathway. In addition, miR‐30 family members inhibited the expression of NEDD4, a negative regulator of IFITM3, which is important for host defence against influenza viruses. Our findings suggest that IAV utilises a novel strategy to restrain host type I IFN‐mediated antiviral immune responses by decreasing the expression of miR‐30 family members, and add a new way to understand the mechanism of immune escape caused by influenza viruses.     

SOCS1在氯胺酮减轻小胶质细胞活化中的机制研究

目的:探讨麻醉药氯胺酮(Ketamine, KET)对暴露于脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharide, LPS)中的小胶质细胞活化水平的影响,并观察细胞因子信号转导抑制因子1(Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1, SOCS1)在其中的作用。方法:本研究选用N9小胶质细胞系,将其暴露于浓度为10 ng/mL的LPS中,模拟炎症反应,同时给与浓度为1 m M的KET,采用Western blot、酶联免疫吸附检测(Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, ELISA)小RNA干扰和免疫细胞染色等方法,观察KET对暴露于LPS中的小胶质细胞活化水平的影响,及SOCS1分子在其中的作用。结果:将细胞分为3组,分别为正常培养的Control组、LPS组和KET+LPS组,研究发现,将N9小胶质细胞暴露于含10 ng/mL的细胞培养基中24 h后,细胞诱导型一氧化氮合酶(Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase, i NOS)表达和培养基肿瘤坏死因子α(Tumor Necrosis Factorα, TNF-α)含量显著增加(P0.05),而KET可显著降i NOS蛋白表达和培养基TNF-α含量(P0.05)。随后,将细胞分为5组,分别为Control组、LPS组、KET+LPS组、SOCS1-siRNA+KET+LPS组和乱序siRNA(SC-siRNA)+KET+LPS组,我们发现,LPS可显著增加小胶质细胞TNF-α和白细胞介素1β(Interleukin-1β, IL-1β)的释放、增加SOCS1和核因子κB(Neuclear FactorκB, NF-κB)表达(P0.05),而KET可显著逆转LPS对炎症因子释放和NF-κB表达的影响,并进一步增加SOCS1表达(P0.05),而SOCS1-siRNA显著逆转了KET的上述作用(P0.05),SC-siRNA未对KET产生的上述作用造成显著影响(P0.05)。结论:KET可降低LPS对小胶质细胞的活化作用,上述作用可能通过SOCS1分子介导。     

The SOCS box of SOCS-1 accelerates ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of TEL-JAK2

Fusion of the TEL gene on 12p13 to the JAK2 tyrosine kinase gene on 9p24 has been found in human leukemia. TEL-mediated oligomerization of JAK2 results in constitutive activation of the tyrosine kinase (JH1) domain and confers cytokine-independent proliferation on interleukin-3-dependent Ba/F3 cells. Forced expression of the JAK inhibitor gene SOCS1/JAB/SSI-1 induced apoptosis of TEL-JAK2-transformed Ba/F3 cells. This suppression of TEL-JAK2 activity was dependent on SOCS box-mediated proteasomal degradation of TEL-JAK2 rather than on kinase inhibition. Degradation of JAK2 depended on its phosphorylation and its high affinity binding with SOCS1 through the kinase inhibitory region and the SH2 domain. It has been demonstrated that von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) tumor-suppressor gene product possesses the SOCS box that forms a complex with Elongin B and C and Cullin-2, and it functions as a ubiquitin ligase. The SOCS box of SOCS1/JAB has also been shown to interact with Elongins; however, ubiquitin ligase activity has not been demonstrated. We found that the SOCS box interacted with Cullin-2 and promoted ubiquitination of TEL-JAK2. Furthermore, overexpression of dominant negative Cullin-2 suppressed SOCS1-dependent TEL-JAK2 degradation. Our study demonstrates the substrate-specific E3 ubiquitin-ligase-like activity of SOCS1 for activated JAK2 and may provide a novel strategy for the suppression of oncogenic tyrosine kinases.