Activation of T lymphocytes is a key event for an efficient response of the immune system. It requires the involvement of the T-cell receptor (TCR) as well as costimulatory molecules such as CD28. Engagement of these receptors through the interaction with a foreign antigen associated with major histocompatibility complex molecules and CD28 counter-receptors B7.1/B7.2, respectively, results in a series of signaling cascades. These cascades comprise an array of protein-tyrosine kinases, phosphatases, GTP-binding proteins and adaptor proteins that regulate generic and specialised functions, leading to T-cell proliferation, cytokine production and differentiation into effector cells.

Organismal Systems; Immune system

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Chen L.

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Macian F.

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Nat Rev Immunol 5:472-84 (2005)
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Nat Rev Immunol 1:220-8 (2001)
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Horejsi V, Zhang W, Schraven B.

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Nat Rev Immunol 4:603-16 (2004)
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Baniyash M.

TCR zeta-chain downregulation: curtailing an excessive inflammatory immune response.

Nat Rev Immunol 4:675-87 (2004)
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Sechi AS, Wehland J.

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Trends Immunol 25:257-65 (2004)
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Okkenhaug K, Vanhaesebroeck B.

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Nat Rev Immunol 3:317-30 (2003)
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Palacios EH, Weiss A.

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Oncogene 23:7990-8000 (2004)
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Trends Immunol 23:413-20 (2002)
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Acuto O, Michel F.

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Nat Rev Immunol 3:939-51 (2003)
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Finkelstein LD, Schwartzberg PL.

Tec kinases: shaping T-cell activation through actin.

Trends Cell Biol 14:443-51 (2004)
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Duan L, Reddi AL, Ghosh A, Dimri M, Band H.

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Immunity 21:7-17 (2004)
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Schrum AG, Turka LA, Palmer E.

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Immunol Rev 196:7-24 (2003)
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Annu Rev Immunol 27:591-619 (2009)
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Diehn M, Alizadeh AA, Rando OJ, Liu CL, Stankunas K, Botstein D, Crabtree GR, Brown PO

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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:11796-801 (2002)
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Blonska M, Lin X

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Rebeaud F, Hailfinger S, Thome M

Dlgh1 and Carma1 MAGUK proteins contribute to signal specificity downstream of TCR activation.

Trends Immunol 28:196-200 (2007)
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Ashwell JD

The many paths to p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the immune system.

Nat Rev Immunol 6:532-40 (2006)
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Round JL, Humphries LA, Tomassian T, Mittelstadt P, Zhang M, Miceli MC

Scaffold protein Dlgh1 coordinates alternative p38 kinase activation, directing T cell receptor signals toward NFAT but not NF-kappaB transcription factors.

Nat Immunol 8:154-61 (2007)
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