LKLF: A transcriptional regulator of single-positive T cell quiescence and survival.
Mature single-positive (SP) T lymphocytes enter a "resting" state in which they are proliferatively quiescent and relatively resistant to apoptosis. The molecular mechanisms regulating this quiescent phenotype were unknown. Here it was found that the expression of a Kruppel-like zinc finger transcription factor, lung Kruppel-like factor (LKLF), is developmentally induced during the maturation of SP quiescent T cells and rapidly extinguished after SP T cell activation. LKLF-deficient T cells produced by gene targeting had a spontaneously activated phenotype and died in the spleen and lymph nodes from Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. Thus, LKLF is required to program the quiescent state of SP T cells and to maintain their viability in the peripheral lymphoid organs and blood.
Kuo
C T
CT
Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Veselits
M L
ML
Leiden
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002678:Chimera; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018390:Gene Targeting; D007399:Interphase; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D016335:Zinc Fingers; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; C498314:Klf2 protein, mouse; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D019014:fas Receptor