OBJECTIVESuppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) have been shown to play an important role in regulating cytokines, such as intracellular interferon (IFN) and interleukin (IL), in the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway. At present, the association between SOCS and asthma is still under study. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship of SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the intracellular IFN-'/IL-4 ratio in CD4+ T cells and specific IgE (sIgE) level in children with asthma.

METHODSBMCs were collected from 44 children with allergic asthma (4-14 years) and 30 healthy children. The intracellular IFN-'/IL-4 ratio in CD4+ T cells was measured by flow cytometry. Total RNAs were extracted from the PBMCs and SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 mRNA expression was measured by SYBR Green I quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy children, children with allergic asthma showed a lower level of intracellular IFN-' in peripheral blood [(15.7±2.0)% vs (19.1±2.7)%] and IFN-'/IL-4 ratio (3.4±1.5 vs 4.8±2.9) and higher SOCS-1 mRNA expression (-Ct, 11.1±1.9 vs 12.6±2.8). There was a negative relationship between SOCS-1 mRNA expression and the percentage of IFN-'-producing CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood in both asthmatic and healthy children (P<0.05). No correlation was found between SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 expression and sIgE level.

CONCLUSIONSChildren with allergic asthma have elevated levels of SOCS-1 mRNA in PBMCs, which is associated with Th2-skewed immune response.