title: T cell development in mice lacking the CD3-zeta/eta gene.
abstract: The CD3-zeta and CD3-eta polypeptides are two of the components of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) which contribute to its efficient cell surface expression and account for part of its transducing capability. CD3-zeta and CD3-eta result from the alternative splicing of a single gene designated CD3-zeta/eta. To evaluate the role of these subunits during T cell development, we have produced mice with a disrupted CD3-zeta/eta gene. The analysis of thymocyte populations from the CD3-zeta/eta-/- homozygous mutant mice revealed that they have a profound reduction in the surface levels of TCR complexes and that the products of the CD3-zeta/eta gene appear to be needed for the efficient generation and/or survival of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Despite the almost total absence of mature single positive thymocytes, the lymph nodes from zeta/eta-/- mice were found to contain unusual CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ single positive cells which were CD3-. In contrast to the situation observed in the thymus, the thymus-independent gut intraepithelial lymphocytes present in zeta/eta-/- mice do express TCR complexes on their surface and these are associated with Fc epsilon RI gamma homodimers. These results establish an essential role for the CD3-zeta/eta gene products during intrathymic T cell differentiation and further emphasize the difference between conventional T cells and thymus-independent gut intraepithelial lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Immunologie INSERM-CNRS de Marseille-Luminy, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malissen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillet
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trucy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vivier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Köntgen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spanopoulou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002999:Clone Cells; D017353:Gene Deletion; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2