The Tec Family Tyrosine Kinases Itk and Rlk Regulate the Development of Conventional CD8+ T Cells.
Atherly, Luana O. 3; Lucas, Julie A. 3; Felices, Martin 1; Yin, Catherine C. 1; Reiner, Steven L. 2; Berg, Leslie J. 1,∗
[Article] Immunity. 25(1):79-91, July 2006.

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: The Tec family tyrosine kinases, Itk and Rlk, are expressed in thymocytes and peripheral T cells and regulate thresholds of T cell receptor signaling. Yet little is known about the specific role of Itk- and Rlk-dependent signals in CD8 T cell maturation. We show here that Itk-/- and Rlk-/-Itk-/- mice were nearly devoid of conventional CD8 T cells and, instead, contained a large population of CD8 T cells that bear striking similarity to lineages of innate lymphocytes. Itk-/- and Rlk-/-Itk-/- CD8 thymocytes and T cells were CD44hi, CD122 , and NK1.1 ; were able to produce interferon-[gamma] directly ex vivo; and were dependent on interleukin-15. Itk-/- and Rlk-/-Itk-/- CD8 thymocytes expressed abundant transcripts for the T box transcription factor, eomesodermin, correlating with their phenotype and function. These data indicate a critical role for Itk and Rlk in conventional CD8 T cell development in the thymus.

(C) 2006Elsevier, Inc.