Induction of T helper type 2 immunity by a point mutation in the LAT adaptor

E Aguado, S Richelme, S Nuñez-Cruz, A Miazek… - Science, 2002 - science.org
E Aguado, S Richelme, S Nuñez-Cruz, A Miazek, AM Mura, M Richelme, XJ Guo, D Sainty…
Science, 2002science.org
The transmembrane protein LAT (linker for activation of T cells) couples the T cell receptor
(TCR) to downstream signaling effectors. Mice homozygous for a mutation of a single LAT
tyrosine residue showed impeded T cell development. However, later they accumulated
polyclonal helper T (TH) cells that chronically produced type 2 cytokines in large amounts.
This exaggerated TH2 differentiation caused tissue eosinophilia and massive maturation of
plasma cells secreting to immunoglobulins of the E and G1 isotypes. This paradoxical …
The transmembrane protein LAT (linker for activation of T cells) couples the T cell receptor (TCR) to downstream signaling effectors. Mice homozygous for a mutation of a single LAT tyrosine residue showed impeded T cell development. However, later they accumulated polyclonal helper T (TH) cells that chronically produced type 2 cytokines in large amounts. This exaggerated TH2 differentiation caused tissue eosinophilia and massive maturation of plasma cells secreting to immunoglobulins of the E and G1 isotypes. This paradoxical phenotype establishes an unanticipated inhibitory function for LAT that is critical for the differentiation and homeostasis of TH cells.
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