Abstract
ZAP70 [zeta-chain (TCR)-associated protein kinase, 70-kDa], is required for T cell activation. ZAP70 deficiencies in humans and null mutations in mice lead to severe combined immune deficiency. Here, we describe a zap70 loss-of-function mutation in zebrafish (zap70 y442 ) that was created using transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). In contrast to what has been reported for morphant zebrafish, zap70 y442 homozygous mutant zebrafish displayed normal development of blood and lymphatic vasculature. Hematopoietic cell development was also largely unaffected in mutant larvae. However, mutant fish had reduced lck:GFP + thymic T cells by 5 days postfertilization that persisted into adult stages. Morphological analysis, RNA sequencing, and single-cell gene expression profiling of whole kidney marrow cells of adult fish revealed complete loss of mature T cells in zap70 y442 mutant animals. T cell immune deficiency was confirmed through transplantation of unmatched normal and malignant donor cells into zap70 y442 mutant zebrafish, with T cell loss being sufficient for robust allogeneic cell engraftment. zap70 mutant zebrafish show remarkable conservation of immune cell dysfunction as found in mice and humans and will serve as a valuable model to study zap70 immune deficiency.