Suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) genes are expressed in the endometrium and regulated by conceptus signals during early pregnancy in the ewe

It is established that the conceptus-endometrium dialogue involves cytokines, growth factors and hormones. Given the crucial functions of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family proteins in cytokine signalling, we analyzed the expression and the regulation of CIS and SOCSs 1-3 transcripts during early pregnancy in the ovine endometrium. An overall stimulation of the SOCS transcripts was described in the pregnant ewes with two specific patterns. Unilaterally pregnant ewes confirmed the conceptus-produced factors as regulators of the SOCSs 1-3 expression at day 16 of pregnancy. Intrauterine injection of recombinant ovine interferon tau (IFN tau) in cyclic ewes stimulated the expression of the SOCS mRNA with various potencies, therefore suggesting that the SOCS could take part in the negative regulation of the IFN tau signalling pathway.