T Cell Development in Mice that Lack the ζ Chain of the T Cell Antigen Receptor Complex

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Abstract
The ζ subunit of the T cell antigen receptor complex is required for targeting nascent receptor complexes to the cell surface and for receptor-mediated signal transduction. To examine the significance of the ζ subunit in T cell development, mice deficient for ζ expression were generated by gene targeting. These ζ -/- mice had few CD4 + CD8 + thymocytes, and the generation of CD4 + and CD8 + single positive T cells was impaired but not completely abrogated. Peripheral T cells were present but were unusual in that they expressed small amounts of CD5 and few T cell receptors. Thus, ζ chain expression influences thymocyte differentiation but is not absolutely required for the generation of single positive T cells.