SOCS2 and bacterial infectious disease: While our results confirm the critical role of SOCS2 in regulating GH signaling, the genetic relationship to mastitis in sheep (a bacterial infection of the udder) [20], indicates SOCS2 also has an important role in regulating the immune response to bacterial infection, most likely related to its up-regulation by LPS and IFNγ, and inhibition of NFkB signaling [24].