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Lrrc8a is a ubiquitously expressed gene that encodes a leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-containing protein detected at higher levels on the surface of thymocytes than on other immune cells. We generated Lrrc8a(-/-) mice to investigate the role of LRRC8A in lymphocyte development and function. Lrrc8a(-/-) mice had increased prenatal and postnatal mortality, growth retardation, and multiple tissue abnormalities. Lrrc8a(-/-) mice displayed a modest block in B cell development but intact intrinsic B cell function. In contrast, both Lrrc8a(-/-) mice and Lrrc8a(-/-)→Rag2(-/-) bone marrow chimeras exhibited a severe cell-intrinsic block in early thymic development, with decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of thymocytes, and impaired peripheral T cell function. Thymic epithelial cells expressed an LRRC8A ligand that was critical for double-negative to double-positive thymocyte differentiation and survival in vitro. LRRC8A constitutively associated with the GRB2-GAB2 complex and lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) in thymocytes. LRRC8A ligation activated AKT via the LCK-ZAP-70-GAB2-PI3K pathway, and AKT phosphorylation was markedly reduced in the thymus of Lrrc8a(-/-) mice. These findings reveal an essential role for LRRC8A in T cell development, survival, and function.

Original publication

DOI

10.1084/jem.20131379

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Exp Med

Publication Date

05/05/2014

Volume

211

Pages

929 - 942

Keywords

Analysis of Variance, Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Cell Differentiation, DNA-Binding Proteins, Flow Cytometry, Immunoblotting, Immunohistochemistry, Membrane Proteins, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Phosphorylation, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, T-Lymphocytes, Thymocytes