Lymphocyte-specific interferon regulatory factor (LSIRF) (now called IRF4) is a transcription factor expressed only in lymphocytes. Mice deficient in IRF4 showed normal distribution of B and T lymphocyes at 4 to 5 weeks of age but developed progressive generalized lymphadenopathy. IRF4-deficient mice exhibited a profound reduction in serum immunoglobulin concentrations and did not mount detectable antibody responses. T lymphocyte function was also impaired in vivo; these mice could not generate cytotoxic or antitumor responses. Thus, IRF4 is essential for the function and homeostasis of both mature B and mature T lymphocytes.

The absence of CTLA-4 results in uncontrolled T cell proliferation. The T cell receptor-specific kinases FYN, LCK, and ZAP-70 as well as the RAS pathway were found to be activated in T cells of Ctla-4-/- mutant mice. In addition, CTLA-4 specifically associated with the tyrosine phosphatase SYP, an interaction mediated by the SRC homology 2 (SH2) domains of SYP and the phosphotyrosine sequence Tyr-Val-Lys-Met within the CTLA-4 cytoplasmic tail. The CTLA-4-associated SYP had phosphatase activity toward the RAS regulator p52SHC. Thus, the RAS pathway and T cell activation through the T cell receptor are regulated by CTLA-4-associated SYP.

Current models suggest that T cells that receive only signal-1 through antigenic stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) become anergic, but will mount an immune response when a costimulatory signal-2 is provided. Using mice deficient for an important costimulatory molecule, CD28, we show that a transient signal-1 alone, either through infection with an abortively replicating virus, or through injection of viral peptide, anergizes CD8+ T cells, demonstrating the biological relevance of T cell anergy in vivo. However, in the absence of CD28, continued presence of signal-1 alone, either through prolonged viral replication or repeated injection of peptide, prevents the induction of anergy and generates a functional T cell response in vivo.