Sj. Sohn et al., REQUIREMENT FOR JAK3 IN MATURE T-CELLS - ITS ROLE IN REGULATION OF T-CELL HOMEOSTASIS, The Journal of immunology, 160(5), 1998, pp. 2130-2138
The tyrosine kinase Jak3 plays a key role in transducing signals from
the IL-2, -4, -7, -9, and -15 receptors, Mice lacking Jak3 exhibit a p
rofound, early block in both B and T cell development. To examine the
mechanisms whereby Jak3 influences T cell function, we have reconstitu
ted thymic development in Jak3(-/-) animals by introducing a Jak3 tran
sgene in which expression was driven by the lck proximal promoter, Thy
mic reconstitution required Jak3 kinase activity, as catalytically ina
ctive Jak3 did not restore early thymic development, Furthermore, the
thymus-restricted expression pattern of the transgene allowed us to as
sess the requirement for Jak3 in peripheral T cells, In these mice, lo
ss of Jak3 expression was associated with a failure to proliferate in
response to antigen receptor crosslinking, the accumulation of T cells
manifesting an activated cell surface phenotype, and an increased CD4
/CD8 ratio among peripheral T cells, all of which are characteristics
that were observed in Jak3(-/-) animals. Finally, we present data whic
h suggest that peripheral T cells proliferate more rapidly in vivo and
also undergo apoptosis more rapidly, upon loss of Jak3, Hence Jak3 ex
erts effects on mature peripheral T lymphocytes, as well as on thymocy
tes, resulting in the proper maintenance of circulating, quiescent cel
ls.