Cytokines regulate growth and functions of a variety of cells including immune and hematopoietic cells. The SOCS family proteins negatively regulate cytokine signaling, thereby preventing overactivation of cytokine-stimulated cells. A new study provides evidence that inactivation of SOCS-1, one of the SOCS family members, can be responsible for abnormal growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, suggesting that SOCS-1 may act as a tumor suppressor.
- Tadamitsu Kishimoto
- Hitoshi Kikutani
