Deletion of the LIME adaptor protein minimally affects T and B cell development and function

Eur J Immunol. 2007 Nov;37(11):3259-69. doi: 10.1002/eji.200737563.

Abstract

LIME (Lck-interacting membrane protein) is a transmembrane adaptor that associates with the Lck and Fyn protein tyrosine kinases and with the C-terminal Src kinase (Csk). To delineate the role of LIME in vivo, LIME-deficient mice were generated. Although Lime transcripts were expressed in immature and mature B and T cells, the absence of LIME impeded neither the development nor the function of B and T cells. TCR transgenic mice deprived of LIME showed, however, a 1.8-fold enhancement in positive selection. Since B cells and activated T cells express LIME and the related adaptor NTAL, mice lacking both adaptors were generated. Double-deficient mice showed no defect in the development and function of B and T cells, and the lack of LIME had no effect on the autoimmune syndrome that develops in aged NTAL-deficient mice. In contrast to a previous report, we further showed that this autoimmune syndrome develops in the absence of T cells. Therefore, our in vivo results refute all the previous roles postulated for LIME on the basis of studies of transformed B and T cells and demonstrate that LIME has no seminal role in the signaling cassette operated by antigen receptors and coreceptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / deficiency
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Autoimmunity
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Lck-interacting protein, mouse