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Published on: June 15, 2017
Signalling through TEC kinases regulates conventional versus innate CD8(+) T-cell development.
1Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA. leslie.berg@umassmed.edu
Nature Reviews. Immunology
|May 5, 2007
Summary
The TEC kinases ITK and RLK regulate CD8(+) T-cell development. Their absence causes CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes to develop into innate-like CD8(+) T cells dependent on IL-15.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- T-cell development is a complex process.
- Conventional CD8(+) T cells are crucial for adaptive immunity.
- Non-conventional T-cell subsets play diverse roles in immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TEC kinases ITK and RLK in CD8(+) T-cell development.
- To understand the mechanisms underlying the development of non-conventional T-cell lineages.
Main Methods:
- Genetic manipulation to inactivate ITK and RLK in thymocytes.
- Flow cytometry to analyze T-cell populations.
- Gene expression analysis to identify key transcription factors.
Main Results:
- Absence of ITK and RLK leads to upregulation of eomesodermin in CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes.
- These thymocytes develop into CD8(+) T cells resembling memory cells, producing cytokines immediately and requiring IL-15.
- Selection of these innate-like T cells involves interactions with thymic hematopoietic cells.
Conclusions:
- ITK and RLK are critical regulators of conventional CD8(+) T-cell development.
- Altered T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling and co-stimulatory signals drive the development of non-conventional T-cell lineages.
- These findings provide insights into the plasticity of T-cell differentiation.
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