| First Author | Shores E | Year | 1997 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 159 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 222-30 |
| PubMed ID | 9200458 | Mgi Jnum | J:41075 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:892815 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.159.1.222 |
| Citation | Shores E, et al. (1997) Fc epsilonRI gamma can support T cell development and function in mice lacking endogenous TCR zeta-chain. J Immunol 159(1):222-30 |
| abstractText | Fc epsilonRI gamma (Fc gamma) is a member of the zeta family of signal transducing molecules that function as components of both the TCR and Fc receptors (FcR). While the majority of thymocytes and T cells express TCRs containing zeta-chain homodimers, certain unique populations of T cells express TCRs that contain both zeta and Fc gamma. To examine the ability of Fc gamma to substitute for zeta-chain in T cell development and function, we introduced a transgene encoding Fc gamma into mice made genetically deficient for zeta-chain (zeta(e)-/-). Analysis of thymocyte development in zeta(e)-/-;Fc gamma Tg mice demonstrated that Fc gamma was able to support the maturation of both gammadelta TCR+ and alphabeta TCR+ T cells. However, positive selection of alphabeta TCR+ thymocytes was less efficient in zeta(e)-/-;Fc gamma Tg mice than in zeta(e)-/- mice reconstituted with zeta-chain. This difference may be due to the fact that Fc gamma contains a single immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) whereas zeta-chain contains three ITAMs. Interestingly, the peripheral T cells that develop in zeta(e)-/- mice reconstituted with Fc gamma are functional and respond to TCR-specific stimuli. These data suggest that Fc gamma and zeta are interchangeable in their ability to mediate T cell development and function, however zeta-chain is more efficient at promoting positive selection and T cell maturation. The difference in efficiency between zeta and Fc gamma may be responsible in part for the unusual developmental and functional properties of T cells that constitutively express Fc gamma as a signaling component of their TCRs. |
