Inefficient termination of antigen responses in NF-ATp-deficient mice.
In order to elucidate the role of NF-ATp, one of the most prominent members of family of NF-AT transcription factors in peripheral T lymphocytes, in T cell activation and differentiation we created NF-ATp-deficient mice by gene targeting. Such NF-ATp-/- mice are born and appear to develop a normal immune system. Apart from clear-cut defects in the synthesis of mRNAs for Th2-type lymphokines, such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13, in primary and secondary stimulations of spleen cells in vitro, of a distinct impaired deletion of V beta 11+/CD4+ T lymphocytes from these mice was detected after superantigen injection. Moreover, NF-ATp-/- mice older than 6 weeks show an 2-5 fold increase in number of lymphocytes. This is correlated with an increased expression of activation markers CD44 and CD69 and decreased expression of CD62.
Heyer
J
J
Department of Molecular Pathology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
Kneitz
B
B
Schuh
K
K
Jankevics
E
E
Siebelt
F
F
Schimpl
A
A
Serfling
E
E
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D008222:Lymphokines; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018089:Superantigens; D014157:Transcription Factors; C026066:enterotoxin A, Staphylococcal