Expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling in peripheral blood monocular cells of patients with sympathetic ophthalmia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the mRNA and protein expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) of patients with sympathetic ophthalmia.Methods Blood samples were taken from 14 sympathetic ophthalmia patients with active uveitis,13 quiescent patients,and 15 healthy individuals.IFN-γ,IL-12 and IL-4 in the serum were measured by ELISA.PBMC were subjected to analysis of SOCS mRNA and protein expression using quantitative RT-PCR and western blot,respectively.Results The level of IFN-γ,IL-12 and IL-4 were all significantly higher in the serum of sympathetic ophthalmia patients with active uveitis than that in controls and quiescent patients(P ＜0.05).There were no significant differences between the quiescent patients and the controls(P ＞ 0.05).Compared to healthy volunteers,the expressions of cytokine inducible SH2 containing protein (CIS),SOCS1,SOCS3 and SOCS5 mRNA and protein were significantly increased.There were no significant differences in expression of CIS,SOCS1,SOCS3 mRNA and protein in quiescent patients,but SOCS5 mRNA and protein were significantly increased.Conclusion Up regulation of SOCS1 and SOCS5 expression may involve in the development of a Th1 mediated immune response in sympathetic ophthalmia patients with active uveitis.CIS and SOCS3 may play important roles in mitigating the pathogenic effects of proinflammatory cytokines.It were kept balance in quiescent patients,and up-regulation of SOCS5 may have protective functions. Key words: Suppressor of cytokine signaling; Sympathetic ophthalmia