Polycystic kidneys and chronic inflammatory lesions are the delayed consequences of loss of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1).
Mice with inactivation of the gene encoding the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) die in neonatal life with an IFN-gamma-dependent inflammatory disease dominated by fatty degeneration and necrosis of the liver. To establish the long-term pathological consequences of loss of SOCS-1 in mice, where initial survival was made possible by also deleting the IFN-gamma gene, a comparison was made of the lifespan of groups of SOCS-1(-/-) IFN-gamma(-/-), SOCS-1(+/+) IFN-gamma(-/-) and SOCS-1(+/+) IFN-gamma(+/+) mice. Mice lacking the genes for both SOCS-1 and IFN-gamma exhibited an accelerated death rate compared with control groups. Disease states developing selectively in SOCS-1(-/-) IFN-gamma(-/-) mice were polycystic kidneys, pneumonia, chronic skin ulcers, and chronic granulomas in the gut and various other organs. Mice of all three groups developed cataracts, but disease development was accelerated in the groups lacking IFN-gamma. SOCS-1(-/-) IFN-gamma(-/-) mice exhibited a slightly increased predisposition to the development of T lymphoid leukemia, either spontaneous or radiation-induced. The development of polycystic kidneys may be caused by a developmental defect in renal-tubule organization noted in neonatal SOCS-1(-/-) mice. The chronic infections and granulomas of SOCS-1(-/-) IFN-gamma(-/-) mice may be based on autoaggression of SOCS-1(-/-) T lymphoid and related cells or a functional deficiency of these cells when lacking SOCS-1.
Metcalf
Donald
D
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and the Cooperative Research Centre for Cellular Growth Factors, Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia. metcalf@wehi.edu.au
Mifsud
Sandra
S
Di Rago
Ladina
L
Nicola
Nicos A
NA
Hilton
Douglas J
DJ
Alexander
Warren S
WS
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000235:genetics; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C491590:Socs1 protein, mouse; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma