Pim serine/threonine kinases regulate the stability of Socs-1 protein

Studies of SOCS-1-deficient mice have implicated Socs-1 in the suppression of JAK-STAT (Janus tyrosine kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription) signaling and T cell development. It has been suggested that the levels of Socs-1 protein may be regulated through the proteasome pathway. Here we show that Socs-1 interacts with members of the Pim family of serine/threonine kinases in thymocytes. Coexpression of the Pim kinases with Socs-1 results in phosphorylation and stabilization of the Socs-1 protein. The protein levels of Socs-1 are significantly reduced in the Pim-1(−/−), Pim-2(−/−) mice as compared with wild-type mice. Similar to Socs-1(−/−) mice, thymocytes from Pim-1(−/−), Pim-2(−/−) mice showed prolonged Stat6 phosphorylation upon IL-4 stimulation. These data suggest that the Pim kinases may regulate cytokine-induced JAK-STAT signaling through modulation of Socs-1 protein levels.