M1 macrophages are pro-inflammatory, whereas M2 macrophages are involved in tissue repair. Here, Spence et al. study the role of suppressor of cytokine signalling 2 (SOCS2) and SOCS3 in macrophage polarization. The phenotypes of Socs2−/− or Socs3−/− macrophages were analysed in the absence or presence of polarizing stimuli, and their function was tested in a mouse model of sepsis. Socs2−/− macrophages were biased towards the M1 subset, whereas Socs3−/− macrophages had a stable M2 profile. Moreover, compared with controls, Socs2−/− macrophages had higher levels of phosphorylated STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) following stimulation with interferon-γ, and Socs3−/− macrophages had higher levels of active STAT6 in response to interleukin-4. As the blockade of these cytokines partially reversed the polarization bias of Socs2−/− and Socs3−/− macrophages, SOCS2 and SOCS3 may control macrophage polarization by regulating cytokine–STAT signalling.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Spence, S. et al. Suppressors of cytokine signaling 2 and 3 diametrically control macrophage polarization. Immunity 21 Nov 2012 (doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2012.09.013)
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Papatriantafyllou, M. SOCS2 and SOCS3 in macrophage polarization. Nat Rev Immunol 13, 7 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri3379
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nri3379