Dissection of Signaling Cascades through gp130 In Vivo

Abstract

We generated a series of knockin mouse lines, in which the cytokine receptor gp130-dependent STAT3 and/or SHP2 signals were disrupted, by replacing the mouse gp130 gene with human gp130 mutant cDNAs. The SHP2 signal–deficient mice (gp130^F759/F759) were born normal but displayed splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy and an enhanced acute phase reaction. In contrast, the STAT3 signal–deficient mice (gp130^FXXQ/FXXQ) died perinatally, like the gp130-deficient mice (gp130^D/D). The gp130^F759/F759 mice showed prolonged gp130-induced STAT3 activation, indicating a negative regulatory role for SHP2. Th1-type cytokine production and IgG2a and IgG2b production were increased in the gp130^F759/F759 mice, while they were decreased in the gp130^FXXQ/FXXQ immune system. These results indicate that the balance of positive and negative signals generated through gp130 regulates the immune responses.