title: The expanding role for ITAM-based signaling pathways in immune cells.
abstract: The immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) is the primary signaling domain used by classical immunoreceptors, such as the antigen receptors on B and T lymphocytes and the Fc receptors (FcRs) on myeloid cells. The ITAM is contained in the intracellular region of subunits associated with these receptors, often in pairs, or is part of the cytoplasmic domain of the receptors themselves. Data from many investigators have demonstrated that ITAMs are both necessary and sufficient for initiation of signaling downstream of all immunoreceptors. More recent reports indicate that ITAM signaling is used by additional receptors beyond the classical immunoreceptors: Cell adhesion molecules (integrins and PSGL-1), chemokine receptors (CXCR4), plexins, and lectin receptors all mediate immune cell function through ITAM-like signaling pathways. This convergence of intracellular signaling pathways in leukocytes illuminates the importance of tyrosine-based activation motifs in the immune system and suggests that inhibitors of ITAM signaling may have broader effects than originally envisioned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Clare L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Abram
authors.forename: Clifford A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lowell
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism*; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D016023:Integrins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C084882:P-selectin ligand protein; C492116:PLXNA1 protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D014764:Viral Proteins