Tec kinases regulate T-lymphocyte development and function: new insights into the roles of Itk and Rlk/Txk.
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Readinger JA, Mueller KL, Venegas AM, Horai R, Schwartzberg PL
Tec kinases regulate T-lymphocyte development and function: new insights into the roles of Itk and Rlk/Txk.
Immunol Rev. 2009 Mar;228(1):93-114. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065X.2008.00757.x.
- PubMed ID
- 19290923 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
The Tec (tyrosine kinase expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma) family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases consists of five members: Tec, Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), inducible T-cell kinase (Itk), resting lymphocyte kinase (Rlk/Txk), and bone marrow-expressed kinase (Bmx/Etk). Although their functions are probably best understood in antigen receptor signaling, where they participate in the phosphorylation and regulation of phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma), it is now appreciated that these kinases contribute to signaling from many receptors and that they participate in multiple downstream pathways, including regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. In T cells, three Tec kinases are expressed, Itk, Rlk/Txk, and Tec. Itk is expressed at highest amounts and plays the major role in regulating signaling from the T-cell receptor. Recent studies provide evidence that these kinases contribute to multiple aspects of T-cell biology and have unique roles in T-cell development that have revealed new insight into the regulation of conventional and innate T-cell development. We review new findings on the Tec kinases with a focus on their roles in T-cell development and mature T-cell differentiation.