Therapeutic hope for psoriasis offered by SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling) mimetic peptide.

The cytokine network has a pivotal role in maintaining skin homeostasis, and the disturbance of this network can lead to skin pathogenesis. Evidence published in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology by Madonna et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2013. 43: 1883-1895], together with other recent data, focuses attention on a negative cytokine regulator, namely SOCS 1 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 1) in immune-mediated skin disease. In addition, Madonna et al. bring new perspectives regarding the therapeutic control of IFN-γ-mediated skin pathogenesis by use of a SOCS 1 mimetic peptide.