title: Tec family kinases: Itk signaling and the development of NKT αβ and γδ T cells.
abstract: The Tec family tyrosine kinase interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (Itk) is predominantly expressed in T cells and has been shown to be critical for the development, function and differentiation of conventional αβ T cells. However, less is known about its role in nonconventional T cells such as NKT and γδ T cells. In this minireview, we discuss evidence for a role for Itk in the development of invariant NKT αβ cells, as well as a smaller population NKT-like γδ T cells. We discuss how these cells take what could be the same signaling pathway regulated by Itk, and interpret it to give different outcomes with regards to development and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Center for Molecular Immunology & Infectious Disease, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Arun Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.forename: Avery
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: August
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C089848:Tec protein-tyrosine kinase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C080813:emt protein-tyrosine kinase