Disclosed is a nucleic acid construct comprising a murine SOCS-3 promoter
sequence having SEQ. ID. NO.:1, or a non-murine homologue thereof, or an
operative fragment or derivative. The construct can also contain,
operatively linked to the SOCS-3 promoter, a gene encoding any
preselected protein, and optionally contains a reporter gene to
facilitate detection and/or selection of successfully transfected cells.
Also disclosed are a transgenic vertebrate cell containing the nucleic
acid construct and transgenic non-human vertebrates comprising such
cells. The nucleic acid construct is useful in methods of treating a
growth retardation or growth acceleration disorder in a human subject and
in a method of treating an autoimmune disease, immune disease, or
inflammatory condition in a human subject. A kit for genetically
modifying a vertebrate cell includes a polynucleotide comprising the
murine SOCS-3 promoter sequence is also disclosed.
