title: Role of the LAT adaptor in T-cell development and Th2 differentiation.
abstract: LAT (linker for activation of T cells) is an integral membrane adaptor protein that constitutes in T cells a major substrate of the ZAP-70 protein tyrosine kinase. LAT coordinates the assembly of a multiprotein signaling complex through phosphotyrosine-based motifs present within its intracytoplasmic segment. The resulting "LAT signalosome" links the TCR to the main intracellular signalling pathways that regulate T-cell development and T-cell function. Early studies using transformed T-cell lines suggested that LAT acts primarily as a positive regulator of T-cell receptor (TCR) signalling. The partial or complete inhibition of T-cell development observed in several mouse lines harboring mutant forms of LAT was congruent with that view. More recently, LAT "knock-ins" harboring point mutations in the four COOH-terminal tyrosine residues, were found to develop lymphoproliferative disorders involving polyclonal T cells that produced high amounts of T helper-type 2 (Th2) cytokines. This unexpected finding revealed that LAT also constitutes a negative regulator of TCR signalling and T-cell homeostasis. Although LAT is also expressed in mast cells, natural killer cells, megakaryocytes, platelets, and early B cells, the present review specifically illustrates the role LAT plays in the development and function of mouse T cells. As discussed, the available data underscore that a novel immunopathology proper to defective LAT signalosome is taking shape.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, INSERM-CNRS-Université de la Méditerranée, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 906, 13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malissen
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguado
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malissen
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D018448:Models, Immunological; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C110810:LAT protein, human; C491734:Lat protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell