SOCS-1 Binding to Tyrosine 441 of IFN-γ Receptor Subunit 1 Contributes to the Attenuation of IFN-γ Signaling In Vivo

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 is a critical inhibitor of IFN-gamma signal transduction in vivo, but the precise biochemical mechanism of action of SOCS-1 is unclear. Studies in vitro have shown that SOCS-1 binds to Jaks and inhibits their catalytic activity, but recent studies indicate SOCS-1 may act in a similar manner to SOCS-3 by firstly interacting with cytokine receptors and then inhibiting Jak activity. Here, we have generated mice, termed Ifngr1(441F), in which a putative SOCS-1 binding site, tyrosine 441 (Y441), on the IFN-gamma receptor subunit 1 (IFNGR1) is mutated. We confirm that SOCS-1 binds to IFNGRI in wild-type but not mutant cells. Mutation of Y441 results in impaired negative regulation of IFN-gamma signaling. IFN-gamma-induced STATI activation is prolonged in Ifngr1(441F) cells, but not to the extent seen in cells completely SOCS-1, suggesting that SOCS-1 maintains activity to modulate IFN-gamma signaling via other mechanisms. Despite this, we show that hypersensitivity to IFN-gamma results in enhanced innate tumor protection in Ifngr1(441F) mice in vivo, and unregulated expression of an IFN-gamma-dependent chemokine, monokine-induced by IFN-gamma. Collectively, these data indicate that Y441 contributes to the regulation of signaling through IFNGRI via the recruitment of SOCS-1 to the receptor. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 183: 4537-4544.