Constitutive expression of SOCS3 confers resistance to IFN-α in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells

Because suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are negative regulators of cytokine-induced signaling, it has been hypothesized that aberrant SOCS expression confers resistance against cytokine therapy. This study reports on the constitutive expression of SOCS3 in most chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell lines, which are resistant to treatment with interferon α (IFN-α). In contrast, the KT-1/A3 cell line, in which constitutive expression of SOCS3 is barely detectable, is sensitive to IFN-α treatment. Forced expression of SOCS3 in the KT-1/A3 cell line confers resistance to IFN-α treatment. Furthermore, most of the blast cells from patients in CML blast crisis, which are usually resistant to IFN-α therapy, showed constitutive expression of SOCS3. These findings indicate that constitutive SOCS3 expression affects the IFN-α sensitivity of CML cell lines and blast cells from patients with CML blast crisis.