Lck mediates Th2 differentiation through effects on T-bet and GATA-3.
The Src family kinase Lck has been shown to be crucial in T cell signaling and development. However, its role in Th effector functions is not well understood. Lck has previously been shown to play a role in the cytokine expression of Th2 cells, but the mechanism by which Lck influences Th2 effector functions is unknown. Using a mouse model, we report that Lck is important in regulating the expression of IL-4 in Th2 skewed cells but is not as necessary for the expression of Th2 cytokines IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13. Furthermore, in the absence of Lck, T-bet and GATA-3 expression is aberrant. Moreover, this atypical expression pattern of T-bet and GATA-3 correlates with increased histone 3 acetylation at the Ifng locus and production of the Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma. We find overexpression of GATA-3 restores IL-4 expression in lck(-/-) Th2 cells; this indicates that the decreased IL-4 expression is due in part to reduced amounts of GATA-3. Taken together, these data imply that Lck mediates Th2 differentiation through effects on T-bet and GATA-3.
Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Kyeorda L
KL
Kemp
Steven D
SD
Levin
Paul J
PJ
Bryce
Paul L
PL
Stein
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)