Abstract
Atopic dermatitis, pollinosis, and bronchial asthma allergic immune disorders are characterized by a predominance of T helper 2(Th2) cells, the resulting elevation of allergen-specific IgE, and mast cell-and basophile-associated inflammation. The cytokine environment at the site of the initial antigen stimulation determines the direction of differentiation into Th1 or Th2 cells. The SOCS(suppressor of cytokine signaling) proteins are known to act as a negative regulator for many aspect of cytokine signaling and play a precise role to control the balance between Th1 and Th2 cells. SOCS3 and SOCS5 are predominantly expressed in Th2 and Th1 cells, respectively, and they reciprocally inhibit the Th1 and Th2 differentiation processes. Here, We discuss the role of SOCS proteins in helper T cell differentiation and explore the potential of SOCS proteins as targets for therapeutic strategies in allergic disorders.
