Sep, 2011
SOCS1 is essential for regulatory T cell functions by preventing loss of Foxp3 expression as well as IFN-gamma and IL-17A production
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
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- Volume
- 208
- Number
- 10
- First page
- 2055
- Last page
- 2067
- Language
- English
- Publishing type
- Research paper (scientific journal)
- DOI
- 10.1084/jem.20110428
- Publisher
- ROCKEFELLER UNIV PRESS
Regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) maintain immune homeostasis by limiting inflammatory responses. SOCS1 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 1), a negative regulator of cytokine signaling, is necessary for the suppressor functions of T(reg) cells in vivo, yet detailed mechanisms remain to be clarified. We found that Socs1(-/-) T(reg) cells produced high levels of IFN-gamma and rapidly lost Foxp3 when transferred into Rag2(-/-) mice or cultured in vitro, even though the CNS2 (conserved noncoding DNA sequence 2) in the Foxp3 enhancer region was fully demethylated. Socs1(-/-) T(reg) cells showed hyperactivation of STAT1 and STAT3. Because Foxp3 expression was stable and STAT1 activation was at normal levels in Ifn gamma(-/-)Socs1(-/-) T(reg) cells, the restriction of IFN-gamma-STAT1 signaling by SOCS1 is suggested to be necessary for stable Foxp3 expression. However, Ifn gamma(-/-)Socs1(-/-) T(reg) cells had hyper-activated STAT3 and higher IL-17A (IL-17) production compared with Ifn gamma(-/-)Socs1(+/+) T(reg) cells and could not suppress colitis induced by naive T cells in Rag2(-/-) mice. In vitro experiments suggested that cytokines produced by Socs1(-/-) T(reg) cells and Ifn gamma(-/-)Socs1(-/-) T(reg) cells modulated antigen-presenting cells for preferential Th1 and Th17 induction, respectively. We propose that SOCS1 plays important roles in T(reg) cell integrity and function by maintaining Foxp3 expression and by suppressing IFN-gamma and IL-17 production driven by STAT1 and STAT3, respectively.
- Link information
- ID information
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- DOI : 10.1084/jem.20110428
- ISSN : 0022-1007
- Pubmed ID : 21893603
- Web of Science ID : WOS:000295318900012