Autonomous maturation of alpha/beta T lineage cells in the absence of COOH-terminal Src kinase (Csk).
The deletion of COOH-terminal Src kinase (Csk), a negative regulator of Src family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), in immature thymocytes results in the development of alpha/beta T lineage cells in T cell receptor (TCR) beta-deficient or recombination activating gene (rag)-1-deficient mice. The function of Csk as a repressor of Lck and Fyn activity suggests activation of these PTKs is solely responsible for the phenotype observed in csk-deficient T lineage cells. We provide genetic evidence for this notion as alpha/beta T cell development is blocked in lck(-/)-fyn(-/)- csk-deficient mice. It remains unclear whether activation of Lck and Fyn in the absence of Csk uncouples alpha/beta T cell development entirely from engagement of surface-expressed receptors. We show that in mice expressing the alpha/beta TCR on csk-deficient thymocytes, positive selection is biased towards the CD4 lineage and does not require the presence of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II. Furthermore, the introduction of an MHC class I-restricted transgenic TCR into a csk-deficient background results in the development of mainly CD4 T cells carrying the transgenic TCR both in selecting and nonselecting MHC background. Thus, TCR-MHC interactions have no impact on positive selection and commitment to the CD4 lineage in the absence of Csk. However, TCR-mediated negative selection of csk-deficient, TCR transgenic cells is normal. These data suggest a differential involvement of the Csk-mediated regulation of Src family PTKs in positive and negative selection of developing thymocytes.
Laboratory for Lymphocyte Signaling, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA. schmedc@mail.rockefeller.edu
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Tarakhovsky
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D000081247:CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005260:Female; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / Q000378:metabolism; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D019061:src-Family Kinases
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000081247:CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase; C494960:Fyn protein, mouse; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck); D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D019061:src-Family Kinases