T cell development in mice that lack the zeta chain of the T cell antigen receptor complex.
The zeta subunit of the T cell antigen receptor complex is required for targeting nascent receptor complexes to the cell surface and for receptor-mediated signal transduction. To examine the significance of the zeta subunit in T cell development, mice deficient for zeta expression were generated by gene targeting. These zeta-/- mice had few CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, and the generation of CD4+ and CD8+ single positive T cells was impaired but not completely abrogated. Peripheral T cells were present but were unusual in that they expressed small amounts of CD5 and few T cell receptors. Thus, zeta chain expression influences thymocyte differentiation but is not absolutely required for the generation of single positive T cells.
Love
P E
PE
Laboratory of Mammalian Genes and Development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892.
Shores
E W
EW
Johnson
M D
MD
Tremblay
M L
ML
Lee
E J
EJ
Grinberg
A
A
Huang
S P
SP
Singer
A
A
Westphal
H
H
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; C054979:antigen T cell receptor, zeta chain