Failure of sensory neurons to express class I MHC is due to differential SOCS1 expression

Neurons, unlike glia and most other cell types, fail to express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, even in response to IFNgamma. This study shows that sensory neurons but not glia constitutively express high levels of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1), a negative regulator of IFNgamma signaling. Neurons from SOCS1 null mice expressed class I MHC in response to IFNgamma, while SOCS1 overexpression in glia inhibited MHC induction. Differential expression of SOCS1 by neurons explains their failure to express MHC. Regulation of SOCS1 induction and therefore neuronal responses to IFNgamma may be critical for neuron survival following viral infection or injury.