Cytokine-independent Jak3 Activation upon T Cell Receptor (TCR) Stimulation through Direct Association of Jak3 and the TCR Complex

Jak3 is responsible for growth signals by various cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-7 through association with the common γ chain (γc) in lymphocytes. We found that T cells from Jak3-deficient mice exhibit impairment of not only cytokine signaling but also early activation signals and that Jak3 is phosphorylated upon T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. TCR-mediated phosphorylation of Jak3 is independent of IL-2 receptor/γc but is dependent on Lck and ZAP-70. Jak3 was found to be assembled with the TCR complex, particularly through direct association with CD3ζ via its JH4 region, which is a different region from that for γc association. These results suggest that Jak3 plays a role not only in cell growth but also in T cell activation and represents cross-talk of a signaling molecule between TCR and growth signals.