Function of CD3 epsilon-mediated signals in T cell development

The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and pre-TCR complexes are composed of multiple signal-transducing subunits (CD3 gamma, CD3 delta, CD3 epsilon, and zeta) that each contain one or more copies of a semiconserved functional motif, the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). Although biochemical studies indicate that individual TCR-ITAMs may bind selectively or with different affinity to various effector molecules, data from other experiments suggest that at least some ITAMs are functionally equivalent. In this study, we examined the role of CD3straightepsilon ITAM-mediated signals in T cell development by genetically reconstituting CD3 epsilon-deficient mice with transgenes encoding either wild-type or ITAM-mutant (signaling defective) forms of the protein. The results demonstrate that signals transduced by CD3 epsilon are not specifically required for T cell maturation but instead contribute quantitatively to TCR signaling in a manner similar to that previously observed for zeta chain. Unexpectedly, analysis of TCR-transgenic/CD3 epsilon-mutant mice reveals a potential role for CD3 epsilon signals in T cell survival.