STRESS-SIGNALING KINASE SEK1 PROTECTS THYMOCYTES FROM APOPTOSIS MEDIATED BY CD95 AND CD3

Citation
H. Nishina et al., STRESS-SIGNALING KINASE SEK1 PROTECTS THYMOCYTES FROM APOPTOSIS MEDIATED BY CD95 AND CD3, Nature, 385(6614), 1997, pp. 350-353
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Journal title
NatureACNP
ISSN journal
00280836
Volume
385
Issue
6614
Year of publication
1997
Pages
350 - 353
Database
ISI
SICI code
0028-0836(1997)385:6614<350:SKSPTF>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
Distinct and evolutionarily conserved signal transduction cascades med iate survival or death in response to developmental and environmental cues, The stress-activated protein kinases, or Jun N-terminal kinases (SAPKs/JNKs)(1,2), are activated in response to a variety of cellular stresses such as changes in osmolarity and metabolism, DNA damage, hea t shock, ischaemia, or inflammatory cytokines(3-6). Sek1 (JNKK/MKK4) i s a direct activator of SAPKs/JNKs in response to environmental stress es or mitogenic factors(7-9). Here we investigate the role of Sek1 in development and apoptosis by deleting sek1 in embryonic stem (ES) cell s by homologous recombination, We provide genetic evidence that differ ent stresses utilize distinct signalling pathways for SAPK/JNK activat ion, sek1(-/-)/rag2(-/-) chimaeric mice have normal numbers of mature T cells but fewer immature CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes, The sek1 mutation did not affect the induction of apoptosis in response to environmental stresses in ES and T cells: instead, sek1 protected thymocytes from C D95 (Fas)- and CD3-mediated apoptosis, These data indicate that SEK1 m ediates survival signals in T-cell development.