Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are induced by IL-7 and target surface CD127 protein for degradation in human CD8 T cells

•IL-7 signaling plays key roles in the development and function of T cells.•SOCS proteins inhibit cytokine-induced signaling pathways in T cells.•IL-7 induces the expression of a specific subset of SOCS genes in human CD8 T cells.•CIS and SOCS2 interact directly with CD127 following stimulation with IL-7.•An E3 ubiquitin ligase is recruited to direct CD127 to the proteasome for degradation.

Given the essential role interleukin (IL)-7 plays in T-cell survival, homeostasis and function, it is no surprise expression of the IL-7 receptor alpha-chain (CD127) is tightly regulated. We have previously shown IL-7 binding to its receptor on the surface of CD8 T cells leads to both suppression of CD127 gene transcription and loss of existing CD127 protein from the cell membrane. Indeed upon binding IL-7, CD127 is rapidly internalized into early endosomes where phosphorylation by JAK targets the receptor for degradation. We now show that IL-7 induces the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins CIS, SOCS1 and SOCS2 through the JAK/STAT-5 pathway and that CIS and SOCS2 specifically interact with CD127 in early endosomes and direct the receptor complex to the proteasome for degradation. These results illustrate how expression of the IL-7 receptor and thus IL-7 signaling is modulated in human CD8 T cells by a negative feedback mechanism dependent on members of the SOCS family of proteins.