T cell CD3ζ deficiency enables multiorgan tissue inflammation

Although a population of T cells with CD3ζ chain deficiency has been found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and infectious disease, the role of CD3ζ chain in the disease pathogenesis remains unknown. To understand the contribution of CD3ζ deficiency to the expression of organ injury, we have performed the following studies. We used CD3ζ-deficient mice to investigate the role of CD3ζ in the pathogenesis of organ tissue inflammation. We found that the CD3ζ(-/-) mice can spontaneously develop significant organ inflammation that can be accelerated following the administration of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid or allogeneic cells (graft versus host). T cells from CD3ζ(-/-) mice display increased expression of the adhesion molecules CD44 and CCR2 and produce increased amounts of IFN-γ blockade, which mitigates tissue inflammation. Our results demonstrate that CD3ζ deficiency bestows T cells with the ability to infiltrate various tissues and instigate inflammation. Decreased CD3ζ expression noted in T cells from various diseases contributes independently to tissue inflammation and organ damage. Approaches to restore CD3ζ expression of the surface of T cells should be expected to mitigate tissue inflammation.