αβ T cell development is abolished in mice lacking both Lck and Fyn protein tyrosine kinases

Nicolai S C Van Oers, Bente Lowin-Kropf, Deborah Finlay, Kari Connolly, Arthur Weiss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

257 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two families of protein tyrosine kinases (pTKs), the Src and Syk/ZAP-70 families, are required for T cell development. Lck is the major Src family member required for thymopoiesis, since there is a severe deficit of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes and mature T cells in its absence. However, some peripheral T cells are evident in these mice, suggesting that additional PTKs may contribute to T cell development. Here we show that the combined disruption of Lck and Fyn (lck(-/-)fyn(-/-)) completely arrests αβ T cell development at the CD4-CD8- stage. The development of Vγ3+ dendritic epidermal T cells is also severely impaired, but natural killer cell development and cytolytic activity is unaffected in lck(-/-)fyn(-/-) mice. These findings reveal the potential for redundant functions mediated by Src family PTKs while emphasizing crucial roles for Lck and Fyn in T cell development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)429-436
Number of pages8
JournalImmunity
Volume5
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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