The Tec Kinases Itk and Rlk Regulate NKT Cell Maturation,

Cytokine Production, and Survival

2010. 10. 11Jeong Hae Seong

NKT cell

NKT cell

NKT cell

• expression of a mature TCR that binds to CD1d tetramer

• stage 1 : they have low expression of CD44 and NK1.1

• stage 2 : they acquire high expression of CD44

• stage 3 : they acquire expression of NK1.1 as well as several other

NK markers

NKT cell

NKT cell

NKT cell

Itk & Rlk

ResultsFig 1.

ResultsFig 2.

ResultsFig 3.

ResultsFig 4.

ResultsFig 5.

ResultsFig 6.

Discussion

• Itk has the predominant role in TCR-dependent thymic selection events

• Tec appears to have no important role during T cell development or in the primary activation of naive T cells

• determine whether Rlk could compensate for Itk in NKT cell development, and also whether the Tec kinases Itk and Rlk are required for other aspects of NKT cell biology

• NKT cells in Itk/ and Itk/Rlk/ mice shares strong similarities with defects observed in the absence of the cytokine IL-15, and more strikingly, in the absence of the T-box transcription factor, T-bet

Discussion

• SAP- and Fyn-deficient mice reduced NKT cell numbers observed in the Tec kinase-deficient mice.

• T-bet together with IL-15 is essential for terminal maturation, development of effector function, and long-term survival of NKT cells.

• T-bet is regulation of IFN- transcription

DiscussionFig 7.

Discussion

• AP-1 activation plays a crucial role in the terminal maturation of NKT cells.

• Tec family kinases may be required for optimal TCR signaling, and defects in this pathway may lead to alterations in lineage development in the thymus.

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