Negative Regulation of Cytokine Signaling by the SOCS Proteins

Cytokines are potent regulators of blood cell development, the immune system, and many other tissues andphysiological responses in the body (Nicola 1994). Theyoften display both overlapping and pleiotropic biologicalactivities, and the molecular basis for these has become alittle clearer as their receptor components and intracelluarsignaling pathways have begun to be unraveled. For example, families of cytokines with similar activities maybe united by the usage of common receptor components(LIF, IL-6, oncostatin M, IL-11, cardiotrophin, and ciliary neurotrophic factor all use gp130; GM-CSF, IL-3,and IL-5 all use βc; and IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-13, andIL-15 all use γc)...