Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are key regulators of innate and adaptive immunity. Mice lacking functional SOCS4 are hypersusceptible to primary infection with influenza A virus (IAV), displaying dysregulated pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in the lungs, delayed viral clearance and impaired trafficking of influenza-specific CD8(+) T cells to the site of infection. SOCS4 is a known inhibitor of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor signalling, and functional studies demonstrated specific upregulation of EGF-dependent immune stimulation in affected family members.
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