Leucine-rich repeat containing 8A (LRRC8A) is essential for T lymphocyte development and function

Lrrc8a is a ubiquitously expressed gene that encodes a leucine-rich repeat (LRR)–containing protein detected at higher levels on the surface of thymocytes than on other immune cells. We generated Lrrc8a(−/−) mice to investigate the role of LRRC8A in lymphocyte development and function. Lrrc8a(−/−) mice had increased prenatal and postnatal mortality, growth retardation, and multiple tissue abnormalities. Lrrc8a(−/−) mice displayed a modest block in B cell development but intact intrinsic B cell function. In contrast, both Lrrc8a(−/−) mice and Lrrc8a(−/−)→Rag2(−/−) bone marrow chimeras exhibited a severe cell-intrinsic block in early thymic development, with decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of thymocytes, and impaired peripheral T cell function. Thymic epithelial cells expressed an LRRC8A ligand that was critical for double-negative to double-positive thymocyte differentiation and survival in vitro. LRRC8A constitutively associated with the GRB2–GAB2 complex and lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) in thymocytes. LRRC8A ligation activated AKT via the LCK–ZAP–70–GAB2–PI3K pathway, and AKT phosphorylation was markedly reduced in the thymus of Lrrc8a(−/−) mice. These findings reveal an essential role for LRRC8A in T cell development, survival, and function.