Shintaro Kamizono

Cytokine‐inducible SH2 protein‐3 (CIS3/SOCS3) inhibits Janus tyrosine kinase by binding through the N‐terminal kinase inhibitory region as well as SH2 domain

The Janus family of protein tyrosine kinases (JAKs) regulate cellular processes involved in cell growth, differentiation and transformation through their association with cytokine receptors. We have recently identified the JAK‐binding protein, JAB that inhibits various cytokine‐dependent JAK signalling pathways. JAB inhibits JAK2 tyrosine kinase activity by binding to the kinase domain (JH1 domain) through the N‐terminal kinase inhibitory region (KIR) and the SH2 domain. The SH2 domain of JAB has been shown to bind to the phosphorylated Y1007 in the activation loop of JH1. We also identified another JAK‐binding protein, CIS3 (cytokine‐inducible SH2‐protein 3, or SOCS3) that inhibits signalling of various cytokines. However, the mechanism of JAK signal inhibition by CIS3 has not been clarified.

Analysis of tumor necrosis factor-α production and polymorphisms of the tumor necrosis factor-α gene in individuals with a history of Kawasaki disease

Abstract Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α plays a central role in the pathogenesis of vasculitis in Kawasaki disease (KD). To address the genetic background of KD, we investigated the level of TNF‐α production and genetic polymorphisms in the 5′ flanking region of the TNF‐α gene in healthy children with a history of KD.