title: SOCS1 prevents graft arteriosclerosis by preserving endothelial cell function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the role of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) in graft arteriosclerosis (GA).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  GA, the major cause of late cardiac allograft failure, is initiated by immune-mediated endothelial activation resulting in vascular inflammation and consequent neointima formation. SOCS1, a negative regulator of cytokine signaling, is highly expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) and may prevent endothelial inflammatory responses and phenotypic activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical specimens of coronary arteries with GA, with atherosclerosis, or without disease were collected for histological analysis. SOCS1 knockout or vascular endothelial SOCS1 (VESOCS1) transgenic mice were used in an aorta transplant model of GA. Mouse aortic ECs were isolated for in vitro assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dramatic but specific reduction of endothelial SOCS1 was observed in human GA and atherosclerosis specimens, which suggested the importance of SOCS1 in maintaining normal endothelial function. SOCS1 deletion in mice resulted in basal EC dysfunction. After transplantation, SOCS1-deficient aortic grafts augmented leukocyte recruitment and neointima formation, whereas endothelial overexpression of SOCS1 diminished arterial rejection. Induction of endothelial adhesion molecules in early stages of GA was suppressed by the VESOCS1 transgene, and this effect was confirmed in cultured aortic ECs. Moreover, VESOCS1 maintained better vascular function during GA progression. Mechanistically, endothelial SOCS1, by modulating both basal and cytokine-induced expression of the adhesion molecules platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, restrained leukocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration during inflammatory cell infiltration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SOCS1 prevents GA progression by preserving endothelial function and attenuating cytokine-induced adhesion molecule expression in vascular endothelium.
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Pathology and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Institute of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Lingfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Pathology and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Qunhua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Pathology and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Pathology and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Renjing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Pathology and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tellides
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Pathology and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Electronic address: Wang.min@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Pathology and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Institute of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: luyangyu@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Luyang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C491590:Socs1 protein, mouse; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D004247:DNA
keywords: EC; GA; ICAM; JAK; Janus kinase; PECAM; SOCS1; STAT; VCAM; endothelial activation; endothelial adhesion molecule; endothelial cell; graft arteriosclerosis; intercellular adhesion molecule; platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule; signal transducers and activators of transcription; suppressor of cytokine signaling 1; vascular cell adhesion molecule