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Functions of Bruton's tyrosine kinase in mast and B cells
Author(s) -
Kawakami Yuko,
Kitaura Jiro,
Hata Daisuke,
Yao Libo,
Kawakami Toshiaki
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.65.3.286
Subject(s) - biology , mast (botany) , bruton's tyrosine kinase , tyrosine kinase , mast cell , hemocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , immune system , signal transduction
Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) plays crucial roles in B cell differentiation as well as mast cell activation through the high‐affinity IgE receptor (Fc∊RI). Defects in the btk gene lead to agammaglobulinemia ( XLA ) in humans and X‐linked immunodeficiency ( xid ) in mice. Mast cells from xid and btk null mice exhibit mild defects in degranulation and severe impairments in the production of proinflammatory cytokines upon Fc∊RI cross‐linking. Recent studies demonstrated the role of Btk in a sustained increase in intracellular calcium concentrations in response to antigen receptor stimulation. Btk is also involved in the activation of stress‐activated protein kinases, JNK/SAPK1/2, and thereby regulates c‐Jun and other transcription factors that are important in cytokine gene activation. Regulation of the JNK/SAPK activation pathway by Btk may be related to the proapoptotic function of Btk in the programmed cell death in these hematopoietic cells. J. Leukoc. Biol. 65: 286–290; 1999.