Suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) inhibits lymphocyte recruitment into the retina and protects SOCS1 transgenic rats and mice from ocular inflammation.

Purpose: Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins regulate the intensity and duration of cytokine signals and defective expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 has been reported in a number of human diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of SOCS1 in intraocular inflammatory diseases (uveitis) and whether SOCS1 expression is defective in patients with ocular inflammatory diseases.

Methods: Blood from patients with scleritis or healthy human volunteers was analyzed for SOCS expression by RNase protection assay and RT-PCR.