Abstract

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) regulate numerous biological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, survival, proliferation, migration and metabolism. In the immune system, impaired PI3K signalling leads to immunodeficiency, whereas unrestrained PI3K signalling contributes to autoimmunity and leukaemia. New insights into the role of PI3Ks in lymphocyte biology have been derived from gene-targeting studies, which have identified the PI3K subunits that are involved in B-cell and T-cell signalling. In particular, the catalytic subunit p110 seems to be adapted to transmit antigen-receptor signalling in B and T cells. Additional recent work has provided new insights into the molecular interactions that lead to PI3K activation and the signalling pathways that are regulated by PI3K.

Author affiliations

1. Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK.
   Email: klaus.okkenhaug@bbsrc.ac.uk
2. Cell Signalling Group, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 91 Riding House Street, London W1W 7BS, UK
   Email: bartvanh@ludwig.ucl.ac.uk