STAT6 and Ets-1 form a stable complex that modulates Socs-1 expression by interleukin-4 in keratinocytes.

Supressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 is selectively and rapidly induced by appropriate agonists and modulates cytokine responses by interfering with the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (Jak/STAT) pathway. On the basis of the observation that interleukin (IL)-4 up-regulates Socs-1 in the keratinocyte HaCaT cell line, we investigated which sequences of the 5'-Socs-1 gene are responsive to IL-4. We therefore have cloned the 5'-flanking region of this gene, and by promoter analysis we identified a functional IL-4-responsive element located at nucleotide (-684/-570) upstream from the transcription initiation site, whose presence and integrity are necessary to ensure IL-4 responsiveness.