title: Function of CD3 epsilon-mediated signals in T cell development.
abstract: The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and pre-TCR complexes are composed of multiple signal-transducing subunits (CD3 gamma, CD3 delta, CD3 epsilon, and zeta) that each contain one or more copies of a semiconserved functional motif, the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). Although biochemical studies indicate that individual TCR-ITAMs may bind selectively or with different affinity to various effector molecules, data from other experiments suggest that at least some ITAMs are functionally equivalent. In this study, we examined the role of CD3straightepsilon ITAM-mediated signals in T cell development by genetically reconstituting CD3 epsilon-deficient mice with transgenes encoding either wild-type or ITAM-mutant (signaling defective) forms of the protein. The results demonstrate that signals transduced by CD3 epsilon are not specifically required for T cell maturation but instead contribute quantitatively to TCR signaling in a manner similar to that previously observed for zeta chain. Unexpectedly, analysis of TCR-transgenic/CD3 epsilon-mutant mice reveals a potential role for CD3 epsilon signals in T cell survival.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Mammalian Genes and Development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sommers
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dejarnette
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: El-Khoury
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Shores
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Love
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D014443:Tyrosine
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; C115335:CD3E protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D014443:Tyrosine; D002118:Calcium