SOCS Proteins Participate in the Regulation of Innate Immune Response Caused by Viruses

Front Immunol. 2020 Sep 25:11:558341. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.558341. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The host immune system has multiple innate immune receptors that can identify, distinguish and react to viral infections. In innate immune response, the host recognizes pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) in nucleic acids or viral proteins through pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), especially toll-like receptors (TLRs) and induces immune cells or infected cells to produce type I Interferons (IFN-I) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus when the virus invades the host, innate immunity is the earliest immune mechanism. Besides, cytokine-mediated cell communication is necessary for the proper regulation of immune responses. Therefore, the appropriate activation of innate immunity is necessary for the normal life activities of cells. The suppressor of the cytokine signaling proteins (SOCS) family is one of the main regulators of the innate immune response induced by microbial pathogens. They mainly participate in the negative feedback regulation of cytokine signal transduction through Janus kinase signal transducer and transcriptional activator (JAK/STAT) and other signal pathways. Taken together, this paper reviews the SOCS proteins structures and the function of each domain, as well as the latest knowledge of the role of SOCS proteins in innate immune caused by viral infections and the mechanisms by which SOCS proteins assist viruses to escape host innate immunity. Finally, we discuss potential values of these proteins in future targeted therapies.

Keywords: TLR; cytokine; innate immune; suppressor of cytokine signaling proteins; virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Disease Management
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Immunomodulation*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Signal Transduction
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / chemistry
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / genetics
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Diseases / etiology*
  • Virus Diseases / metabolism*
  • Virus Diseases / therapy
  • Viruses / immunology*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins