Cutting Edge: Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Inhibits Activation of NFATp

Recent studies have suggested that signaling initiated by the activation of Ag receptors and signaling activated through cytokine receptors may be regulated by a common set of inhibitory proteins. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS-3), which has previously been demonstrated to inhibit cytokine signaling, is induced on TCR ligation. Overexpression of SOCS-3 can inhibit transcription driven by the IL-2 promoter in response to T cell activation. This inhibitory activity correlates with the suppression of calcineurin-dependent dephosphorylation and activation of the IL-2 promoter binding transcription factor, NFATp. Infection of primary murine T cells with a retrovirus encoding SOCS-3 blocks their IL-2 production in response to activation. Interestingly, SOCS-3 was found to coimmunoprecipitate with the catalytic subunit of calcineurin. These studies suggest that SOCS-3 may regulate T cell function as part of a negative feedback loop.