Impaired development of Vγ3 dendritic epidermal T cells in p56^lck protein tyrosine kinase-deficient and CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase-deficient mice

Abstract

To determine whether p56kk protein tyrosine kinase and CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase are involved in the signal transduction during intrathymic differentiation of γ/Δ T cells, we have examined the development of T cells expressing Vγ3 T cell receptor (TCK) in mice deficient for either protein. The skin from both mice contained significantly reduced numbers of dendritic epidermal T cells expressing decreased levels of Vγ3 TCK at the cell surface. Analysis of the fetal thymus from these mice suggested that maturation of Vγ3 thymocytes was blocked at the immature stage that was characterized by the low level of Vγ3 TCR and the high level of heat stable antigen. These results imply that both p56 lck and CD45 are involved in the signal transduction during maturation of Vγ3 T cells in the fetal thymus. © 1995, Rockefeller University Press., All rights reserved.