[Everything you ever wanted to know about ZAP-70]

The ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase has been described more than ten years ago. Its key role in thymocytes development and mature T lymphocytes activation has been illustrated by the characterization of several human immunodeficiencies presenting with mutations in the zap-70 gene resulting in the absence of ZAP-70 expression. More recently, it has been shown that deregulation of ZAP-70 activity can induce autoimmune diseases. Finally, ZAP-70 expression has been shown in some B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and correlated with bad prognosis of the disease. The diversity of pathologies associated with deregulation of ZAP-70 demonstrates its key role in immune responses. Research aiming at deciphering the different signalling pathways regulated by ZAP-70 will not only shed some lights on these pathologies, but will also help finding new pharmacological tools, targeting ZAP-70, designed to induce immunosuppression or tolerance.