ITK and TCR Signaling

IL2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) is an intracellular tyrosine kinase that is expressed in T cells. It regulates the proliferation, differentiation and development of conventional T cells and NK T cells. This protein has 620 amino acids and contains one PH domain for cell membrane recruitment, one protein kinase domain, and both SH2 and SH3 domains which are commonly found in intracellular kinases. Once T cells are activated, a series of phosphorylation recruits and activates ITK through autophosphorylation. The activated ITK can activate downstream intracellular calcium mobilization and NFAT nucleus translocation, and in turn, activate T cells.

 

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