The Role of Tec Family Kinases in the Regulation of T-helper-cell Differentiation

ABSTRACT

Members of the Tec kinase family (Tec, Btk, Itk, Rlk, and Bmx) play an important role during innate and adaptive immune responses, and mutations in Tec family kinases are linked with immunodeficiencies in humans and mice. Three members of the Tec kinase family are expressed in T cells (Tec, Itk, and Rlk), and biochemical and genetic studies have revealed important roles for Tec family kinases during T-cell development and in the control of T-cell function. Here the authors review the role of Tec family kinases in the regulation of T-helper-cell differentiation.

Keywords :

• CD4⁺ T cells
• immune regulation
• protein tyrosine kinases
• Th subsets