T-cell antigen receptor-induced signal-transduction pathways--activation and function of protein kinases C in T lymphocytes

T cell antigen receptor dependent signalling in human lymphocytes: cholera toxin inhibits interleukin-2 receptor expression but not interleukin-2 synthesis by preventing activation of a protein kinase C isotype, PKC-alpha

Activation and translocation of protein kinases C is a key event in the regulation of T lymphocyte activation, proliferation and function. Stimulation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes with the monoclonal antibody BMA 031 raised against the T cell antigen receptor led to a bimodal activation of protein kinases C. The immediate activation and translocation of the protein kinase C isoform PKC-alpha was followed by activation and translocation of the protein kinase C-beta isoenzyme after 90 min of stimulation. Pretreatment of the cells with cholera toxin for 90 min completely abolished activation of protein kinase C-alpha. In sharp contrast, activation and translocation of protein kinase C-beta was not influenced by the bacterial toxin, suggesting that activation and translocation of different protein kinase C isoenzymes are regulated by distinct mechanisms of transmembrane signalling coupled to the T cell antigen receptor/CD3 complex. The expression of high affinity IL-2 receptors was completely inhibited by cholera toxin, while IL-2 synthesis and secretion were not influenced in BMA 031-stimulated human lymphocytes. Extensive control experiments have shown that the effects of cholera toxin were not mediated by its B subunit, and were independent of elevation of intracellular cAMP concentration, suggesting that cholera toxin interfered with a signalling pathway leading to activation of protein kinase C-alpha, which could be responsible for the inhibition of IL-2 receptor expression. This hypothesis was substantiated by the finding that upon introduction of antibodies against protein kinase C-alpha, IL-2 receptor gene expression was completely suppressed. The results suggest, that protein kinase C-alpha might be the major protein kinase C isoenzyme of a signal transduction cascade regulating IL-2 receptor expression in stimulated human lymphocytes.

Differential signaling by lymphocyte antigen receptors

Studies performed during the past several years make plain that ligand occupancy of antigen receptors need not necessarily provoke identical responses in all instances. For example, ligation of antigen receptors may stimulate a proliferative response, induce a state of unresponsiveness to subsequent stimulation (anergy), or induce apoptosis. How does a single type of transmembrane receptor induce these very heterogeneous cellular responses? In the following pages, we outline evidence supporting the view that the nature of the ligand/receptor interaction directs the physical recruitment of signaling pathways differentially inside the lymphocyte and hence defines the nature of the subsequent immune response. We begin by providing a functional categorization of antigen receptor components, considering the ways in which these components interact with the known set of signal transduction pathways, and then review the evidence suggesting that differential signaling through the TCR is achieved by qualitative differences in the effector pathways recruited by TCR, perhaps reflecting the time required to bring complicated signal transduction elements into proximity within the cell. The time-constant of the interaction between antigen and receptor in this way determines, at least in part, the nature of the resulting response. Finally, although our review focuses substantially on T cell receptor signaling, we have included a less detailed description of B cell receptor signaling as well, simply to emphasize the parallels that exist in these two closely related systems.

Dietary (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress murine lymphoproliferation, interleukin-2 secretion, and the formation of diacylglycerol and ceramide

Elucidation of the mechanism(s) by which dietary fish oil, enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5(n-3)] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA, 22:6(n-3)], suppresses the inflammatory process is essential in maximizing this potentially therapeutic effect. Murine T-lymphocyte function and signal transduction were examined in response to a low fat, short term diet enriched in highly purified EPA or DHA ethyl esters. For 10 d, mice were fed comparable diets containing either 3% safflower oil ethyl esters (SAF), 2% SAF + 1% arachidonic acid triglyceride (AA), 2% SAF + 1% EPA, or 2% SAF + 1% DHA. Concanavalin A-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation in splenocyte cultures was significantly suppressed by dietary EPA and DHA while AA had no effect relative to the SAF control. The suppressed proliferative response in EPA- and DHA-fed mice was preceded temporally by a significant reduction in IL-2 secretion. Kinetics of mitogen-induced diacyl-sn-glycerol (DAG) and ceramide production did not differ significantly between SAF and AA diet groups. In contrast, DAG production was significantly suppressed in EP- and DHA-fed mice relative to the SAF and AA groups. The reduced DAG mass was paralleled by reduced ceramide mass following EPA and DHA feeding compared to the SAF and AA groups. Thus, low dose, short term dietary exposure to highly purified EPA or DHA appears to suppress mitogen-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation by inhibiting IL-2 secretion, and these events are accompanied by reductions in the production of essential lipid second messengers, DAG and ceramide.

1H-NMR visible neutral lipids in activated T lymphocytes: relationship to phosphatidylcholine cycling

Two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy was used to compare changes in the concentration of isotropically-tumbling neutral lipid during the activation of splenic and thymic T lymphocytes. The concentration of mobile neutral lipid (MNL) was similar in splenic and thymic T cells after 72 h of activation with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin. However, after 120 h of activation, MNL concentrations in splenic T cells were more than 3-fold higher than in thymic T cells. An increase in choline (Cho), phosphocholine (PCho) and glycerophosphocholine (GPC) was also observed in both thymic and splenic T cells after 24 h of activation. However, after 72 h of stimulation, Cho and PCho levels had decreased and continued to decline at 96-120 h, while GPC continued to be maintained at elevated levels. The simultaneous increase in MNL and GPC and the decline in Cho and PCho leads us to propose that the synthesis of NMR-visible MNL in activated lymphocytes is linked to the phosphatidylcholine cycle.

Inhibition by fenamates of calcium influx and proliferation of human lymphocytes

1. Flufenamic and tolfenamic acids have recently been shown to inhibit receptor-mediated calcium influx in human neutrophils. The present work was designed to study the effects of these two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on human peripheral blood lymphocyte activation. 2. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs; containing 90% lymphocytes) were stimulated by mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) or by a combination of an inhibitor of microsomal Ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase thapsigargin (TG) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The effects of the two fenamates on cell proliferation were compared with respective changes in calcium metabolism. 3. Flufenamic and tolfenamic acids (10-100 microM) inhibited both Con A and TG + PMA-induced [3H]-thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner. At the same concentration range, the two fenamates inhibited the increase in intracellular free calcium concentration induced by Con A or TG + PMA. This effect was due to inhibition of calcium influx whereas calcium release from intracellular stores remained unaltered. 4. The inhibition of divalent cation influx was confirmed by showing that fenamates inhibited TG + PMA-induced Mn2+ influx. 5. The inhibitory effects of fenamates on PBMNC proliferation and Ca2+ influx were qualitatively similar with those of SK&F 96365, an earlier known inhibitor of receptor-mediated calcium entry. Ketoprofen, a chemically different prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor did not show similar suppressive effects on PBMNCs. 6. The data suggest that flufenamic and tolfenamic acids suppress proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by a mechanism which involves inhibition of Ca2+ influx and is not related to inhibition of prostanoid synthesis.

Integrin-dependent induction of functional urokinase receptors in primary T lymphocytes

In order to reach the sites of inflammation, lymphocytes leave the bloodstream and migrate into peripheral tissues, in a process involving integrin-mediated adhesion to the vascular endothelium, followed by transmigration across the endothelial barrier and through the underlying interstitial matrix. We have investigated the role of the plasminogen activator/plasmin system in normal T cell migration. Receptors for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPAR) were not expressed in resting T lymphocytes, but could be efficiently induced at the mRNA and protein level by coclustering of the antigen receptor complex and beta1 or beta2 integrins, through a signalling pathway involving both protein kinase C activation and an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP. Catalytic activation of plasminogen by uPAR-expressing T cells promoted their migration through an extracellular matrix in vitro. Plasmin-induced invasion was inhibited by plasmin-and urokinase inhibitors and by anti-uPAR antibodies. Finally, cytofluorimetric and immunohistochemical analysis of primary human tumor specimens showed the presence of uPAR positive infiltrating T cells in vivo. Collectively, these findings suggest that plasminogen activation may play a role in lymphocyte migration in vivo, and that integrin-dependent expression of membrane-associated endopeptidases could represent an additional step in the regulated process of leukocyte transmigration.

Immunodeficiency in protein kinase cbeta-deficient mice

Cross-linking of the antigen receptor on lymphocytes by antigens or antibodies to the receptor results in activation of enzymes of the protein kinase C (PKC) family. Mice homozygous for a targeted disruption of the gene encoding the PKC-betaI and PKC-betaII isoforms develop an immunodeficiency characterized by impaired humoral immune responses and reduced cellular responses of B cells, which is similar to X-linked immunodeficiency in mice. Thus PKC-betaI and PKC-betaII play an important role in B cell activation and may be functionally linked to Bruton's tyrosine kinase in antigen receptor-mediated signal transduction.

Induction of NFAT-mediated transcription by Gq-coupled receptors in lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells

The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) was discovered as an inducible transcription factor activated by antigen stimulation of the T cell receptor in lymphocytes. Stimulation of NFAT-mediated transcription is now reported in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells following activation of a neurotransmitter receptor. Carbachol induces robust luciferase responses in Jurkat and pheochromocytoma PC12 cells expressing an NFAT-luciferase reporter construct and a Gq-coupled m3 muscarinic receptor. Cyclosporin blocks this response in PC12 cells, as in Jurkat cells. In PC12 cells expressing a Gi-coupled m2 muscarinic receptor, carbachol induces NFAT-mediated luciferase activity that is strictly dependent upon co-expression of a chimeric G alpha q/alpha i subunit, which confers Gq-effector coupling on Gi-linked receptors. These findings suggest that neurotransmitters, autacoids, or hormones acting on Gq-protein-coupled receptors may serve as physiological stimulators of NFAT in lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells.

Cellular distribution of protein kinase C isozymes in CD3-mediated stimulation of human T lymphocytes with aging

Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in a variety of cellular responses, such as the expression and secretion of IL-2, the regulation of cytotoxic killing and cell proliferation. It is known that these immune functions are altered with aging. Here, we show that anti-CD3-triggered T cell proliferation is significantly decreased with aging and that H7, an inhibitor of PKC, impairs the anti-CD3-induced T cell proliferation in a differential manner, lymphocytes of healthy young subjects being more sensitive to the PKC inhibitor than those of elderly subjects. We examined (Western blot) the presence and the cellular distribution of PKC isozymes in T lymphocytes of healthy young and elderly subjects in the resting state and after anti-CD3 mAb stimulation using antibodies directed against PKC alpha, beta, delta, epsilon and zeta isoforms in the cytosol and the plasma membrane fractions. These five PKC isotypes were present in human T cells of young and elderly subjects. However, their distribution between the cytosolic and membrane fractions varied according to the isozymes and the age of the subjects. In resting lymphocytes of young subjects, all the PKC isozymes were found in the cytosolic fraction, except PKC-zeta. In resting lymphocytes of elderly subjects PKC-zeta and -epsilon were almost equally distributed between the cytosolic and the membrane fractions, whereas PKC-alpha and -zeta were mainly found in the membrane fraction and PKC-beta was almost exclusively located in the cytosolic fraction. The translocation of PKC-alpha, -beta, -delta and -epsilon could be observed under anti-CD3 mAb stimulation in lymphocytes of young subjects, while in the case of elderly subjects only the PKC beta isoform was translocated. Our results suggest tha the decreased availability of cytosolic PKC may contribute to the diminished PKC-dependent responses to CD3-triggered stimulation of human T lymphocytes with aging.

Terminal deoxynucleotidil transferase is a nuclear PKC substrate

Protein phosphorylation is the regulatory mechanism of many cellular events in response to changes in metabolic activity and environmental conditions. Seeing that PKC and TdT levels in cells are both regulated by PMA, we sought particularly intriguing to investigate TdT phosphorylation in vivo, utilizing KM-3 cells, a TdT-positive human pre-B cell line treated with PMA and in vitro, employing purified PKC and human recombinant TdT. Our data show that TdT is a substrate for PKC activity, suggesting that TdT phosphorylation could play a key role in the pathway affecting the control of gene transcription and protein synthesis during lymphoid cells differentiation.

Cytokine production by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human blood cells: effects of corticosteroids, T cell immunosuppressants and phosphodiesterase IV inhibitors

The ability of dexamethasone and prednisolone (corticosteroids), FK506 and cyclosporin A (T cell immunosuppressants), and of nitraquazone and rolipram (phosphodiesterase IV inhibitors) to inhibit cytokine production by stimulated human blood was investigated. Heparinized human blood obtained from normal healthy volunteers was stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence or absence of drug. After different incubation times, supernatant levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) were quantified by ELISA. Dexamethasone strongly inhibited the production of IL-5 (IC50 = 0.004 microM), was less potent against IL-2 and IFN-gamma (IC50 = 0.02-0.05 microM) and showed a relatively weak effect against GM-CSF (IC50 = 0.6 microM). Similarly prednisolone potently suppressed IL-5 generation (IC50 = 0.05 microM), displayed a more modest activity on IL-2 and IFn-gamma (IC50 = 0.2-0.3 microM) and exerted only partial effects (43% inhibition at 1 microM) on GM-CSF). FK506 strongly suppressed the production of IL-2 (IC50 = 0.01 microM) and GM-CSF (IC50 = 0.03 microM), but was inactive (< 30% inhibition at 1 microM) against IL-5 and IFN-gamma. Similarly, cyclosporin A reduced the generation of IL-2 (IC50 = 0.4 microM) and GM-CSF (IC50 = 0.6 microM) while barely affecting the other two cytokines. Nitraquazone and rolipram were most active in reducing the production of IL-5 (IC50 = 0.8 and 1.3 microM, respectively), while their potency against IL-2, GM-CSF and IFN-gamma was 3-6 times lower, with IC50's between 2.4 and 8.0 microM. These data indicate that corticosteroids, T cell immunosuppressants and phosphodiesterase IV inhibitors affect cytokine production by PHA-stimulated human blood cells in a differential and "pharmacotypical'' manner.

In vivo and in vitro phosphorylation of annexin II in T cells: potential regulation by annexin V

In order to understand how signal transduction occurs during T cell activation, it is necessary to identify the key regulatory molecules whose function is influenced by phosphorylation. Annexins II (A-II) and V (A-V) belong to a large family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins. Among many putative functions, annexins may be involved in signal transduction during cellular proliferation and differentiation. In the present study we show that A-II is phosphorylated in vivo in the Jurkat human T cell line. Indeed, A-II is phosphorylated after stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate and on serine residues after T cell antigen receptor (TcR) stimulation. In cytosol from Jurkat cells, A-II is phosphorylated only by Ca2+/phospholipid-stimulated kinases such as Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinases C (cPKCs). A-V inhibits the phosphorylation of A-II and other substrates of cPKCs and has no effect on kinases activated only by phospholipids. In conclusion, A-II is phosphorylated both in vitro and in vivo in Jurkat cells, and may play a role as a substrate during signal transduction in lymphocytes via the TcR through the PKC pathway. On the other hand, A-V could act as a potent modulator of cPKCs in Jurkat cells.