Epigenetic Regulation of Asthma: Role of Stat3, Socs3 and IL-6

Stat3, Socs3 and cytokines play an integral role in coordination and persistence of inflammation. However, a clear understanding of the role played by the Stat3/IL-6 and Socs3 pathway in airway inflammation is lacking. We report the alteration in the status of expression and activation of Stat3 by Ovalbumin, and establish its relationship with Socs3 and IL-6 in the lungs of mice with eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation and airway hyper responsiveness. As IL-6 regulates the activity of DNA methyltransferases, we hypothesize that asthma is fallout of epigenetic alteration in Socs3. Here, the status of CpG methylation and histone acetylation in the Socs3 promoter of asthmatic lung was studied, as was the role of IL-6 in altering these parameters.