title: Expression of SOCS1, SOCS2, and SOCS3 in growth hormone-stimulated skin fibroblasts from children with idiopathic short stature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Possible etiologies of idiopathic short stature (ISS) include a range of conditions, some of which may be caused by defects in the modulation of the growth hormone (GH)-signaling pathway. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway is regulated by several mechanisms, including negative feedback regulation by the suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS). However, the specific induction of SOCS transcript levels in fibroblasts from ISS patients has not been studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the transcript levels of the SOCS1-3 genes under basal conditions, and in the presence or absence of stimulation with rhGH for 24 h in skin fibroblast cultures obtained from patients with ISS and children with normal height.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under basal conditions, ISS patients express higher SOCS2-3 transcript levels than control children. After incubation with recombinant human GH (rhGH), the transcript levels of SOCS2 increased significantly in ISS patients compared to controls (0.79 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.55 +/- 0.07; p = 0.03), a pattern which did not achieve statistical significance for SOCS3 transcript levels (0.55 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.40 +/- 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher baseline transcript levels of the SOCS genes, and the increase observed for SOCS2 after rhGH treatment in ISS patients, suggest that growth retardation in some of these children may be mediated, at least in part, by intracellular overexpression of the SOCS genes.
authors: Institute of Maternal and Child Research, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa 1234, piso 2, PO Box 226-3, Santiago 8360160, Chile. pauocaranza@gmail.com
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Ocaranza
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Morales
authors: Rossana
authors: R
authors: Román
authors: Germán
authors: G
authors: Iñiguez
authors: Cassorla
authors: C
authors: Fernando
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C108944:SOCS1 protein, human; C106643:SOCS2 protein, human; C106644:SOCS3 protein, human; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone