SOCS-6 binds to insulin receptor substrate 4, and mice lacking the SOCS-6 gene exhibit mild growth retardation.

SOCS-6 is a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of proteins (SOCS-1 to SOCS-7 and CIS) which each contain a central SH2 domain and a carboxyl-terminal SOCS box. SOCS-1, SOCS-2, SOCS-3, and CIS act to negatively regulate cytokine-induced signaling pathways; however, the actions of SOCS-4, SOCS-5, SOCS-6, and SOCS-7 remain less clear. Here we have used both biochemical and genetic approaches to examine the action of SOCS-6. We found that SOCS-6 and SOCS-7 are expressed ubiquitously in murine tissues. Like other SOCS family members, SOCS-6 binds to elongins B and C through its SOCS box, suggesting that it might act as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets proteins bound to its SH2 domain for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. We investigated the binding specificity of the SOCS-6 and SOCS-7 SH2 domains and found that they preferentially bound to phosphopeptides containing a valine in the phosphotyrosine (pY) +1 position and a hydrophobic residue in the pY +2 and pY +3 positions. In addition, these SH2 domains interacted with a protein complex consisting of insulin receptor substrate 4 (IRS-4), IRS-2, and the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. To investigate the physiological role of SOCS-6, we generated mice lacking the SOCS-6 gene. SOCS-6(-/-) mice were born in a normal Mendelian ratio, were fertile, developed normally, and did not exhibit defects in hematopoiesis or glucose homeostasis. However, both male and female SOCS-6(-/-) mice weighed approximately 10% less than wild-type littermates.

A neutralizing anti-G-CSFR antibody blocks G-CSF-induced neutrophilia without inducing neutropenia in nonhuman primates.

Neutrophils are the most abundant WBCs and have an essential role in the clearance of pathogens. Tight regulation of neutrophil numbers and their recruitment to sites of inflammation is critical in maintaining a balanced immune response. In various inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, cystic fibrosis, and inflammatory bowel disease, increased serum G-CSF correlates with neutrophilia and enhanced neutrophil infiltration into inflamed tissues. We describe a fully human therapeutic anti-G-CSFR antibody (CSL324) that is safe and well tolerated when administered via i.v. infusion to cynomolgus macaques. CSL324 was effective in controlling G-CSF-mediated neutrophilia when administered either before or after G-CSF. A single ascending-dose study showed CSL324 did not alter steady-state neutrophil numbers, even at doses sufficient to completely prevent G-CSF-mediated neutrophilia. Weekly infusions of CSL324 (≤10 mg/kg) for 3 wk completely neutralized G-CSF-mediated pSTAT3 phosphorylation without neutropenia. Moreover, repeat dosing up to 100 mg/kg for 12 wk did not result in neutropenia at any point, including the 12-wk follow-up after the last infusion. In addition, CSL324 had no observable effect on basic neutrophil functions, such as phagocytosis and oxidative burst. These data suggest that targeting G-CSFR may provide a safe and effective means of controlling G-CSF-mediated neutrophilia as observed in various inflammatory diseases.

The SOCS box of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 contributes to the control of G-CSF responsiveness in vivo.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is a negative regulator of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) signaling in vivo. SOCS proteins regulate cytokine signaling by binding, via their SH2 domains, to activated cytokine receptors or their associated Janus kinases. In addition, they bind to the elongin B/C ubiquitin ligase complex via the SOCS box. To ascertain the contribution of the SOCS box of SOCS3 to in vivo regulation of G-CSF signaling, we generated mice expressing a truncated SOCS3 protein lacking the C-terminal SOCS box (SOCS3(Delta SB/Delta SB)). SOCS3(Delta SB/Delta SB) mice were viable, had normal steady-state hematopoiesis, and did not develop inflammatory disease. Despite the mild phenotype, STAT3 activation in response to G-CSF signaling was prolonged in SOCS3(Delta SB/Delta SB) bone marrow. SOCS3(Delta SB/Delta SB) bone marrow contained increased numbers of colony-forming cells responsive to G-CSF and IL-6. Treatment of the mice with pharmacologic doses of G-CSF, which mimics emergency granulopoiesis and therapeutic use of G-CSF, revealed that SOCS3(Delta SB/Delta SB) mice were hyperresponsive to G-CSF. Compared with wild-type mice, SOCS3(Delta SB/Delta SB) mice developed a more florid arthritis when tested using an acute disease model. Overall, the results establish a role for the SOCS box of SOCS3 in the in vivo regulation of G-CSF signaling and the response to inflammatory stimuli.

Absence of suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 reduces self-renewal and promotes differentiation in murine embryonic stem cells.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is required to maintain pluripotency and permit self-renewal of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells. LIF binds to a receptor complex of LIFR-beta and gp130 and signals via the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway, with signalling attenuated by suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins. Recent in vivo studies have highlighted the role of SOCS-3 in the negative regulation of signalling via gp130. To determine the role of SOCS-3 in ES cell biology, SOCS-3-null ES cell lines were generated. When cultured in LIF levels that sustain self-renewal of wild-type cells, SOCS-3-null ES cell lines exhibited less self-renewal and greater differentiation into primitive endoderm. The absence of SOCS-3 enhanced JAK-STAT and extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK-1/2)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction via gp130, with higher levels of phosphorylated STAT-1, STAT-3, SH-2 domain-containing cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2), and ERK-1/2 in steady state and in response to LIF stimulation. Attenuation of ERK signalling by the addition of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitors to SOCS-3-null ES cell cultures rescued the differentiation phenotype, but did not restore proliferation to wild-type levels. In summary, SOCS-3 plays a crucial role in the regulation of the LIF signalling pathway in murine ES cells. Its absence perturbs the balance between activation of the JAK-STAT and SHP-2-ERK-1/2-MAPK pathways, resulting in less self-renewal and a greater potential for differentiation into the primitive endoderm lineage.

Genetic reduction of embryonic leukemia-inhibitory factor production rescues placentation in SOCS3-null embryos but does not prevent inflammatory disease.

The suppressor of cytokine-signaling (SOCS) proteins act as negative-feedback inhibitors of cytokine and growth-factor-induced signal transduction. In vivo studies have implicated SOCS3 as a negative regulator of signaling downstream of gp130, the receptor subunit shared by IL-6-like cytokines. Mice lacking SOCS3 die at midgestation because of placental failure, and SOCS3 ablation in a cell-type-specific manner results in changes in the functional outcome of gp130 signaling in response to IL-6. In this study, we show that genetic reduction of leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) production by embryo-derived tissues is sufficient to prevent the placental defect. This establishes LIF signaling as a major physiological regulator of trophoblast differentiation in vivo. Mice deficient in both SOCS3 and LIF are born in predicted numbers and appear normal at birth but exhibit failure to thrive and high neonatal mortality. Adult SOCS3-null mice on a LIF-null background succumb to a spontaneous fatal inflammatory disease characterized by neutrophilia and inflammatory-cell tissue infiltrates. The disease spectrum mimics that seen in mice with a conditional deletion of SOCS3 in hematopoietic and endothelial cells, extending the evidence for a major role for SOCS3 in the homeostatic regulation of the inflammatory response and indicates that LIF is not required for this process.

Development of hydrocephalus in mice lacking SOCS7.

SOCS7 is a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of proteins (SOCS1-SOCS7 and CIS). SOCS proteins are composed of an N-terminal domain of variable length, a central Src homology 2 domain, and a C-terminal SOCS box. Biochemical and genetic studies have revealed that SOCS1, SOCS2, SOCS3, and CIS play an important role in the termination of cytokine and growth factor signaling. However, the biological actions of other SOCS proteins are less well defined. To investigate the physiological role of SOCS7, we have used gene targeting to generate mice that lack expression of the Socs7 gene. Socs7-/- mice were born in expected numbers, were fertile, and did not exhibit defects in hematopoiesis or circulating glucose or insulin concentrations. However, Socs7-/- mice were 7-10% smaller than their wild-type littermates, and within 15 weeks of age approximately 50% of the Socs7-/- mice died as a result of hydrocephalus that was characterized by cranial distortion, dilation of the ventricular system, reduced thickness of the cerebral cortex, and disorganization of the subcommissural organ. In situ hybridization studies revealed prominent expression of Socs7 in the brain, suggestive of an important functional role of SOCS7 in this organ.