IMMUNODEFICIENCY IN PROTEIN-KINASE C-BETA-DEFICIENT MICE

Cross-linking of the antigen receptor on lymphocytes by antigens or an tibodies to the receptor results in activation of enzymes of the prote in kinase C (PKC) family. Mice homozygous for a targeted disruption of the gene encoding the PKC-beta I and PKC-beta II isoforms develop an immunodeficiency characterized by impaired humoral immune responses an d reduced cellular responses of B cells, which is similar to X-linked immunodeficiency in mice. Thus PKC-beta I and PKC-beta II play an impo rtant role in B cell activation and may be functionally linked to Brut on's tyrosine kinase in antigen receptor-mediated signal transduction.