A nonredundant role for the adapter protein Shc in thymic T cell development

Bridging the Gap: Modulatory Roles of the Grb2-Family Adaptor, Gads, in Cellular and Allergic Immune Responses

Antigen receptor signaling pathways are organized by adaptor proteins. Three adaptors, LAT, Gads, and SLP-76, form a heterotrimeric complex that mediates signaling by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and by the mast cell high affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRI). In both pathways, antigen recognition triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT and SLP-76. The recruitment of SLP-76 to phospho-LAT is bridged by Gads, a Grb2 family adaptor composed of two SH3 domains flanking a central SH2 domain and an unstructured linker region. The LAT-Gads-SLP-76 complex is further incorporated into larger microclusters that mediate antigen receptor signaling. Gads is positively regulated by dimerization, which promotes its cooperative binding to LAT. Negative regulation occurs via phosphorylation or caspase-mediated cleavage of the linker region of Gads. FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation is profoundly impaired in LAT- Gads- or SLP-76-deficient mice. Unexpectedly, the thymic developmental phenotype of Gads-deficient mice is much milder than the phenotype of LAT- or SLP-76-deficient mice. This distinction suggests that Gads is not absolutely required for TCR signaling, but may modulate its sensitivity, or regulate a particular branch of the TCR signaling pathway; indeed, the phenotypic similarity of Gads- and Itk-deficient mice suggests a functional connection between Gads and Itk. Additional Gads binding partners include costimulatory proteins such as CD28 and CD6, adaptors such as Shc, ubiquitin regulatory proteins such as USP8 and AMSH, and kinases such as HPK1 and BCR-ABL, but the functional implications of these interactions are not yet fully understood. No interacting proteins or function have been ascribed to the evolutionarily conserved N-terminal SH3 of Gads. Here we explore the biochemical and functional properties of Gads, and its role in regulating allergy, T cell development and T-cell mediated immunity.

Bridging the Gap: Modulatory Roles of the Grb2-Family Adaptor, Gads, in Cellular and Allergic Immune Responses

Antigen receptor signaling pathways are organized by adaptor proteins. Three adaptors, LAT, Gads, and SLP-76, form a heterotrimeric complex that mediates signaling by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and by the mast cell high affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRI). In both pathways, antigen recognition triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT and SLP-76. The recruitment of SLP-76 to phospho-LAT is bridged by Gads, a Grb2 family adaptor composed of two SH3 domains flanking a central SH2 domain and an unstructured linker region. The LAT-Gads-SLP-76 complex is further incorporated into larger microclusters that mediate antigen receptor signaling. Gads is positively regulated by dimerization, which promotes its cooperative binding to LAT. Negative regulation occurs via phosphorylation or caspase-mediated cleavage of the linker region of Gads. FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation is profoundly impaired in LAT- Gads- or SLP-76-deficient mice. Unexpectedly, the thymic developmental phenotype of Gads-deficient mice is much milder than the phenotype of LAT- or SLP-76-deficient mice. This distinction suggests that Gads is not absolutely required for TCR signaling, but may modulate its sensitivity, or regulate a particular branch of the TCR signaling pathway; indeed, the phenotypic similarity of Gads- and Itk-deficient mice suggests a functional connection between Gads and Itk. Additional Gads binding partners include costimulatory proteins such as CD28 and CD6, adaptors such as Shc, ubiquitin regulatory proteins such as USP8 and AMSH, and kinases such as HPK1 and BCR-ABL, but the functional implications of these interactions are not yet fully understood. No interacting proteins or function have been ascribed to the evolutionarily conserved N-terminal SH3 of Gads. Here we explore the biochemical and functional properties of Gads, and its role in regulating allergy, T cell development and T-cell mediated immunity.

SHCBP1 promotes synovial sarcoma cell metastasis via targeting TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway and is associated with poor prognosis

BACKGROUND

Our previous studies reported that SHC SH2-domain binding protein 1 (SHCBP1) functions as an oncogene via promoting cell proliferations in synovial sarcoma (SS) cells. However, whether SHCBP1 has any effect on tumor metastasis remains unexplored.

METHODS

The expression of SHCBP1 was analyzed in 76 SS tissues and two SS cell lines by immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR. The relationship between SHCBP1 expression and the clinicopathological features of SS was investigated. The role of SHCBP1 in SS cell adhesion, migration, invasion and angiogenesis was explored by adhesion, Wound healing, Transwell, and Matrigel tube formation assays. Western blotting was conducted to detect the protein expressions of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway and EMT-related markers. The key molecules associated with migration, invasion and EMT were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in tumor specimens.

RESULTS

In current study, we demonstrated that SHCBP1 overexpression significantly enhanced adhesion, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of SS cells. In contrast, SHCBP1 knockdown elicited the opposite effects on these phenotypes in vitro. SHCBP1 promoted tumor metastasis through inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in SS cells. SHCBP1 knockdown could block the incidence of metastasis and EMT in SS cells. Furthermore, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced SHCBP1 expression in a time-dependent pattern and SHCBP1 knockdown inhibited TGF-β1-induced EMT. The activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway was involved in the oncogenic functions of SHCBP1 in SS. In addition, high expression of SHCBP1 in SS patients was associated with tumor progression and decreased survival as well as poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our results indicate that SHCBP1 may promote the metastasis of SS by inducing EMT through targeting TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway and can be a potential molecular target for SS therapy.

A role for Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Beta in T cell development

Metabolism plays an important role in T cell biology and changes in metabolism drive T cell differentiation and fate. Most research on the role of metabolism in T lymphocytes focuses on mature T cells while only few studies have investigated the role of metabolism in T cell development. In this study, we report that activation or overexpression of the transcription factor Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor β (PPARβ) increases fatty acid oxidation in T cells. Furthermore, using both in vivo and in vitro models, we demonstrate that PPARβ activation/overexpression inhibits thymic T cell development by decreasing proliferation of CD4⁻CD8⁻ double-negative stage 4 (DN4) thymocytes. These results support a model where PPARβ activation/overexpression favours fatty acid- instead of glucose-oxidation in developing T cells, thereby hampering the proliferative burst normally occurring at the DN4 stage of T cell development. As a consequence, the αβ T cells that are derived from DN4 thymocytes are dramatically decreased in peripheral lymphoid tissues, while the γδ T cell population remains untouched. This is the first report of a direct role for a member of the PPAR family of nuclear receptors in the development of T cells.

lck-Driven Cre Expression Alters T Cell Development in the Thymus and the Frequencies and Functions of Peripheral T Cell Subsets

Conditional gene targeting using the bacteriophage-derived Cre recombinase is widely applied for functional gene studies in mice. Mice transgenic for Cre under the control of the lck gene promoter are used to study the role of loxP-targeted genes in T cell development and function. In this article, we show a striking 65% reduction in cellularity, preferential development of γδ versus αβ T cells, and increased expression of IL-7R in the thymus of mice expressing Cre under the proximal lck promoter (lck-cre(+) mice). The transition from CD4/CD8 double-negative to double-positive cells was blocked, and lck-cre(+) double-positive cells were more prone to apoptosis and showed higher levels of Cre expression. Importantly, numbers of naive T cells were reduced in spleens and lymph nodes of lck-cre(+) mice. In contrast, frequencies of γδ T cells, CD44(+)CD62L(-) effector T cells, and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells were elevated, as was the frequency of IFN-γ-secreting CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. A literature survey of 332 articles that used lck-cre(+) mice for deletion of floxed genes indicated that results are statistically influenced by the control used (lck-cre(+) or lck-cre(-)), more frequently resembling the lck-cre(+) phenotype described in this article if lck-cre(-) controls were used. Altogether, care should be taken when interpreting published results and to properly control targeted gene deletions using the lck-cre(+) strain.

ShcA regulates thymocyte proliferation through specific transcription factors and a c-Abl-dependent signaling axis

Signaling via the pre-T-cell receptor (pre-TCR), along with associated signals from Notch and chemokine receptors, regulates the β-selection checkpoint that operates on CD4(-) CD8(-) doubly negative (DN) thymocytes. Since many hematopoietic malignancies arise at the immature developmental stages of lymphocytes, understanding the signal integration and how specific signaling molecules and distal transcription factors regulate cellular outcomes is of importance. Here, a series of molecular and genetic approaches revealed that the ShcA adapter protein critically influences proliferation and differentiation during β-selection. We found that ShcA functions downstream of the pre-TCR and p56(Lck) and show that ShcA is important for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent upregulation of transcription factors early growth factor 1 (Egr1) and Egr3 in immature thymocytes and, in turn, of the expression and function of the Id3 and E2A helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins. ShcA also contributes to pre-TCR-mediated induction of c-Myc and additional cell cycle regulators. Moreover, using an unbiased Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) screen, we identified c-Abl as a binding partner of phosphorylated ShcA and demonstrated the relevance of the ShcA-c-Abl interaction in immature thymocytes. Collectively, these data identify multiple modes by which ShcA can fine-tune the development of early thymocytes, including a previously unappreciated ShcA-c-Abl axis that regulates thymocyte proliferation.

ShcA regulates late stages of T cell development and peripheral CD4+ T cell numbers

T cell development in the thymus is a highly regulated process that critically depends upon productive signaling via the preTCR at the β-selection stage, as well as via the TCR for selection from the CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive stage to the CD4 or CD8 single-positive stage. ShcA is an adapter protein expressed in thymocytes, and it is required for productive signaling through the preTCR, with impaired signaling via ShcA leading to a developmental block at the β-selection checkpoint. However, the role of ShcA in subsequent stages of T cell development has not been addressed. In this study, we generated transgenic mice (CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice) that specifically express a phosphorylation-defective dominant-negative ShcA mutant (ShcFFF) in late T cell development. Thymocytes in CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice progressed normally through the β-selection checkpoint, but displayed a significant reduction in the numbers of single-positive CD4(+) and CD8(+) thymocytes. Furthermore, CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice, when bred with transgenic TCR mouse strains, had impaired signaling through the transgenic TCRs. Consistent with defective progression to the single-positive stage, CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice also had significant peripheral lymphopenia. Moreover, these CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice develop attenuated disease in CD4(+) T cell-dependent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Collectively, these data identify an important role for the adapter protein ShcA in later stages of thymic T cell development and in peripheral T cell-dependent events.

Unexpected phenotype of mice lacking Shcbp1, a protein induced during T cell proliferation

T cell development and activation are highly regulated processes, and their proper execution is important for a competent immune system. Shc SH2-domain binding protein-1 (Shcbp1) is an evolutionarily conserved protein that binds to the adaptor protein ShcA. Studies in Drosophila and in cell lines have strongly linked Shcbp1 to cell proliferation, embryonic development, growth factor signaling, and tumorigenesis. Here we show that Shcbp1 expression is strikingly upregulated during the β-selection checkpoint in thymocytes, and that its expression tightly correlates with proliferative stages of T cell development. To evaluate the role for Shcbp1 during thymic selection and T cell function in vivo, we generated mice with global and conditional deletion of Shcbp1. Surprisingly, the loss of Shcbp1 expression did not have an obvious effect during T cell development. However, in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which depends on CD4⁺ T cell function and mimics multiple features of the human disease multiple sclerosis, Shcbp1 deficient mice had reduced disease severity and improved survival, and this effect was T cell intrinsic. These data suggest that despite the striking upregulation of Shcbp1 during T cell proliferation, loss of Shcbp1 does not directly affect T cell development, but regulates CD4⁺ T cell effector function in vivo.

Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) 5 utilises distinct domains for regulation of JAK1 and interaction with the adaptor protein Shc-1

Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS)5 is thought to act as a tumour suppressor through negative regulation of JAK/STAT and epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling. However, the mechanism/s by which SOCS5 acts on these two distinct pathways is unclear. We show for the first time that SOCS5 can interact directly with JAK via a unique, conserved region in its N-terminus, which we have termed the JAK interaction region (JIR). Co-expression of SOCS5 was able to specifically reduce JAK1 and JAK2 (but not JAK3 or TYK2) autophosphorylation and this function required both the conserved JIR and additional sequences within the long SOCS5 N-terminal region. We further demonstrate that SOCS5 can directly inhibit JAK1 kinase activity, although its mechanism of action appears distinct from that of SOCS1 and SOCS3. In addition, we identify phosphoTyr317 in Shc-1 as a high-affinity substrate for the SOCS5-SH2 domain and suggest that SOCS5 may negatively regulate EGF and growth factor-driven Shc-1 signaling by binding to this site. These findings suggest that different domains in SOCS5 contribute to two distinct mechanisms for regulation of cytokine and growth factor signaling.

The tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 dampens murine Th17 development

Th17 cells represent a subset of CD4+ T helper cells that secrete the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17. Th17 cells have been ascribed both a beneficial role in promoting clearance of pathogenic fungi and bacteria, and a pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases. Here we identify the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 as a critical regulator of Th17 development, using 3 complementary approaches. Impaired SHP-1 activity through genetic deletion of SHP-1, transgenic expression of an inducible dominant negative SHP-1, or pharmacologic inhibition of SHP-1 strongly promotes the development of Th17. Ex vivo Th17 skewing assays demonstrate that genetic or pharmacologic disruption of SHP-1 activity in T cells results in a hyper-response to stimulation via IL-6 and IL-21, 2 cytokines that promote Th17 development. Mechanistically, we find that SHP-1 decreases the overall cytokine-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 in primary CD4+ T cells. These data identify SHP-1 as a key modifier of IL-6-and IL-21-driven Th17 development via regulation of STAT3 signaling and suggest SHP-1 as a potential new therapeutic target for manipulating Th17 differentiation in vivo.

The many roles of IL-7 in B cell development; mediator of survival, proliferation and differentiation

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) plays several important roles during B cell development including aiding in; the specification and commitment of cells to the B lineage, the proliferation and survival of B cell progenitors; and maturation during the pro-B to pre-B cell transition. Regulation and modulation of IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) signaling is critical during B lymphopoiesis, because excessive or deficient IL-7R signaling leads to abnormal or inhibited B cell development. IL-7 works together with E2A, EBF, Pax-5 and other transcription factors to regulate B cell commitment, while also functions to regulate Ig rearrangement by modulating FoxO protein activation and Rag enhancer activity. Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are inhibitors of cytokine activation and, in B cells, function to fine tune IL-7R signaling; ensuring that appropriate IL-7 signals are transmitted to allow for efficient B cell commitment and development.

The adaptor protein Shc integrates growth factor and ECM signaling during postnatal angiogenesis

Angiogenesis requires integration of cues from growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and their receptors in endothelial cells. In the present study, we show that the adaptor protein Shc is required for angiogenesis in zebrafish, mice, and cell-culture models. Shc knockdown zebrafish embryos show defects in intersegmental vessel sprouting in the trunk. Shc flox/flox; Tie2-Cre mice display reduced angiogenesis in the retinal neovascularization model and in response to VEGF in the Matrigel plug assay in vivo. Functional studies reveal a model in which Shc is required for integrin-mediated spreading and migration specifically on fibronectin, as well as endothelial cell survival in response to VEGF. Mechanistically, Shc is required for activation of the Akt pathway downstream of both integrin and VEGF signaling, as well as for integration of signals from these 2 receptors when cells are grown on fibronectin. Therefore, we have identified a unique mechanism in which signals from 2 critical angiogenic signaling axes, integrins and VEGFR-2, converge at Shc to regulate postnatal angiogenesis.

Positive and negative regulation of antigen receptor signaling by the Shc family of protein adapters

The Shc adapter family includes four members that are expressed as multiple isoforms and participate in signaling by a variety of cell-surface receptors. The biological relevance of Shc proteins as well as their variegated function, which relies on their highly conserved modular structure, is underscored by the distinct and dramatic phenotypic alterations resulting from deletion of individual Shc isoforms both in the mouse and in two model organisms, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. The p52 isoform of ShcA couples antigen and cytokine receptors to Ras activation in both lymphoid and myeloid cells. However, the recognition of the spectrum of activities of p52ShcA in the immune system has been steadily expanding in recent years to other fundamental processes both at the cell and organism levels. Two other Shc family members, p66ShcA and p52ShcC/Rai, have been identified recently in T and B lymphocytes, where they antagonize survival and attenuate antigen receptor signaling. These developments reveal an unexpected and complex interplay of multiple Shc proteins in lymphocytes.

CXCR4 acts as a costimulator during thymic beta-selection

Passage through the β-selection developmental checkpoint requires productive rearrangement of Tcrb gene segments and formation of a pre-T cell receptor (pre-TCR) on the surface of CD4^–CD8^– thymocytes. How other receptors influence β-selection is less well understood. Here, we define a new role for the chemokine receptor CXCR4 during T cell development. CXCR4 functionally associates with the pre-TCR and influences β-selection by regulating steady-state localization of immature thymocytes within thymic sub-regions, by facilitating optimal pre-TCR-induced survival signals, and by promoting thymocyte proliferation. We also characterize functionally relevant signaling molecules downstream of CXCR4 and the pre-TCR in thymocytes. These data designate CXCR4 as a co-stimulator of the pre-TCR during β-selection.

The adaptor protein Shc plays a key role during early B cell development

The adaptor protein Shc is phosphorylated downstream of many cell surface receptors, including Ag and cytokine receptors. However, the role of Shc in B cell development has not been addressed. Here, through conditional expression of a dominant negative Shc mutant and conditional loss of Shc protein expression, we tested a role for Shc during early B lymphopoiesis. We identified a requirement for Shc beginning at the transition from the pre-pro-B to pro-B stage, with a strong reduction in the number of pre-B cells. This developmental defect is due to increased cell death rather than impaired proliferation or commitment to the B lineage. Additional studies suggest a role for Shc in IL-7-dependent signaling in pro-B cells. Shc is phosphorylated in response to IL-7 stimulation in pro-B cells, and pro-B cells from mice with impaired Shc signaling display increased apoptosis. Together, these data demonstrate a critical role for Shc in early B lymphopoiesis with a requirement in early B cell survival. In addition, we also identify Shc as a required player in signaling downstream of the IL-7R in early B cells.

CD247 can bind SHC1, no matter if CD247 is phosphorylated

On T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation, src homology 2 domain-containing transforming protein C1 (SHC1) had been found to bind the tyrosine-phosphorylated CD247 chain of the receptor via its src homology 2 (SH2) domain, delivering signals that control T cell development and activation. However, how the phosphorylation of CD247 led to the instant binding has not been characterized clearly. To study the binding process in detail, we simulated and compared the interaction processes of the SH2 domain with CD247 and phosphorylated CD247, respectively. Unexpectedly, the simulation revealed that SHC1 can also bind the nonphosphorylated CD247 peptide, which was further validated to be a weak binding by affinity pull-down experiment. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation also revealed that the CD247 peptide formed a folding conformation with its Leu209 inserted into the hydrophobic binding pocket in SHC1. And on phosphorylation, it was the electrostatic attraction between the CD247 Tyr(P)206 and the SHC1 Tyr(P)-binding pocket that destroyed the folding conformation of the nonphosphorylated CD247 and, aided by the electrostatic attraction between SHC1 and the Asp203 of CD247, led to the extended conformation of the phosphorylated CD247 binding to SHC1 strongly. The results suggest that nonphosphorylated CD247 can recruit SHC1 in advance to prepare for the instant needs for SHC1 on TCR stimulation. In view of the ubiquity of phosphorylation in protein interaction regulation, we think this study also exemplified the usefulness of MD in more interactome research involving phosphorylation.

Alterations in the thymocyte phenotype of EphB-deficient mice largely affect the double negative cell compartment

In the present study, we have analysed the phenotype of EphB2 and/or EphB3 deficient thymocytes confirming and extending previous studies on the role of this family of molecules in T-cell differentiation. In all mutant thymuses statistically significant reduced cell contents were observed. This reduction of thymic cellularity correlated with increased proportions of apoptotic cells, largely both double negative (DN; CD4- CD8-) and double positive (CD4+ CD8+) cells, and decreased proportions of DN cycling cells. Adult deficient thymuses also showed increased proportions of DN cells but not significant variations in the percentages of other thymocyte subsets. In absolute terms, the thymocyte number decreased significantly in all thymocyte compartments from the DN3 (CD44- CD25+) cell stage onward, without variations in the numbers of both DN1 (CD44+ CD25-) and DN2 (CD44+ CD25+) cells. Remarkably, all these changes also occurred from the 15-day fetal EphB2 and/or EphB3 deficient mice, suggesting that adult phenotype results from the gradual accumulations of defects appearing early in the thymus ontogeny. As a reflection of thymus condition, a reduction in the number of T lymphocytes occurred in the peripheral blood and mesenteric lymph nodes, but not in spleen, maintaining the proportions of T-cell subsets defined by CD4/CD8 marker expression, in all cases.

Defective T cell development and function in the absence of Abelson kinases

Thymocyte proliferation, survival, and differentiation are tightly controlled by signaling from the pre-TCR. In this study, we show for the first time that the Abelson (Abl) kinases regulate proximal signaling downstream of the pre-TCR. Conditional deletion of Abl kinases in thymocytes reveals a cell-autonomous role for these proteins in T cell development. The conditional knockout mice have reduced numbers of thymocytes, exhibit an increase in the percentage of the CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative population, and are partially blocked in the transition to the CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive stage. Moreover, the total number of T cells is greatly reduced in the Abl mutant mice, and the null T cells exhibit impaired TCR-induced signaling, proliferation, and cytokine production. Notably, Abl mutant mice are compromised in their ability to produce IFN-positive CD8 T cells and exhibit impaired CD8(+) T cell expansion in vivo upon Listeria monocytogenes infection. Furthermore, Ab production in response to T cell-dependent Ag is severely impaired in the Abl mutant mice. Together these findings reveal cell-autonomous roles for the Abl family kinases in both T cell development and mature T cell function, and show that loss of these kinases specifically in T cells results in compromised immunity.

Quantitative time-resolved phosphoproteomic analysis of mast cell signaling

Mast cells play a central role in type I hypersensitivity reactions and allergic disorders such as anaphylaxis and asthma. Activation of mast cells, through a cascade of phosphorylation events, leads to the release of mediators of the early phase allergic response. Understanding the molecular architecture underlying mast cell signaling may provide possibilities for therapeutic intervention in asthma and other allergic diseases. Although many details of mast cell signaling have been described previously, a systematic, quantitative analysis of the global tyrosine phosphorylation events that are triggered by activation of the mast cell receptor is lacking. In many cases, the involvement of particular proteins in mast cell signaling has been established generally, but the precise molecular mechanism of the interaction between known signaling proteins often mediated through phosphorylation is still obscure. Using recently advanced methodologies in mass spectrometry, including automation of phosphopeptide enrichments and detection, we have now substantially characterized, with temporal resolution as short as 10 s, the sites and levels of tyrosine phosphorylation across 10 min of FcepsilonRI-induced mast cell activation. These results reveal a far more extensive array of tyrosine phosphorylation events than previously known, including novel phosphorylation sites on canonical mast cell signaling molecules, as well as unexpected pathway components downstream of FcepsilonRI activation. Furthermore, our results, for the first time in mast cells, reveal the sequence of phosphorylation events for 171 modification sites across 121 proteins in the MCP5 mouse mast cell line and 179 modification sites on 117 proteins in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.

Conditional inactivation of Fbxw7 impairs cell-cycle exit during T cell differentiation and results in lymphomatogenesis

Cell proliferation is strictly controlled during differentiation. In T cell development, the cell cycle is normally arrested at the CD4⁺CD8⁺ stage, but the mechanism underlying such differentiation-specific exit from the cell cycle has been unclear. Fbxw7 (also known as Fbw7, Sel-10, hCdc4, or hAgo), an F-box protein subunit of an SCF-type ubiquitin ligase complex, induces the degradation of positive regulators of the cell cycle, such as c-Myc, c-Jun, cyclin E, and Notch. FBXW7 is often mutated in a subset of human cancers. We have now achieved conditional inactivation of Fbxw7 in the T cell lineage of mice and found that the cell cycle is not arrested at the CD4⁺CD8⁺ stage in the homozygous mutant animals. The mutant mice manifested thymic hyperplasia as a result of c-Myc accumulation and eventually developed thymic lymphoma. In contrast, mature T cells of the mutant mice failed to proliferate in response to mitogenic stimulation and underwent apoptosis in association with accumulation of c-Myc and p53. These latter abnormalities were corrected by deletion of p53. Our results suggest that Fbxw7 regulates the cell cycle in a differentiation-dependent manner, with its loss resulting in c-Myc accumulation that leads to hyperproliferation in immature T cells but to p53-dependent cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in mature T cells.

Unequal Contribution of Akt Isoforms in the Double-Negative to Double-Positive Thymocyte Transition

Pre-TCR signals regulate the transition of the double-negative (DN) 3 thymocytes to the DN4, and subsequently to the double-positive (DP) stage. In this study, we show that pre-TCR signals activate Akt and that pharmacological inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway, or combined ablation of Akt1 and Akt2, and to a lesser extent Akt1 and Akt3, interfere with the differentiation of DN3 and the accumulation of DP thymocytes. Combined ablation of Akt1 and Akt2 inhibits the proliferation of DN4 cells, while combined ablation of all Akt isoforms also inhibits the survival of all the DN thymocytes. Finally, the combined ablation of Akt1 and Akt2 inhibits the survival of DP thymocytes. Constitutively active Lck-Akt1 transgenes had the opposite effects. We conclude that, following their activation by pre-TCR signals, Akt1, Akt2, and, to a lesser extent, Akt3 promote the transition of DN thymocytes to the DP stage, in part by enhancing the proliferation and survival of cells undergoing beta-selection. Akt1 and Akt2 also contribute to the differentiation process by promoting the survival of the DP thymocytes.

Conditional deletion of Shp2 tyrosine phosphatase in thymocytes suppresses both pre-TCR and TCR signals

It is well known that T cell differentiation and maturation in the thymus is tightly controlled at multiple checkpoints. However, the molecular mechanism for the control of this developmental program is not fully understood. A number of protein tyrosine kinases, such as Zap-70, Lck, and Fyn, have been shown to promote signals required for thymocyte development, whereas a tyrosine phosphatase Src homology domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase (Shp)1 has a negative effect in pre-TCR and TCR signaling. We show in this study that Shp2, a close relative of Shp1, plays a positive role in T cell development and functions. Lck-Cre-mediated deletion of Shp2 in the thymus resulted in a significant block in thymocyte differentiation/proliferation instructed by the pre-TCR at the beta selection step, and reduced expansion of CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, mature Shp2(-/-) T cells showed decreased TCR signaling in vitro. Mechanistically, Shp2 acts to promote TCR signaling through the ERK pathway, with impaired activation of ERK kinase observed in Shp2(-/-) T cells. Thus, our results provide physiological evidence that Shp2 is a common signal transducer for pre-TCR and TCR in promoting T cell maturation and proliferation.

ShcA mediates the dominant pathway to extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation during early thymic development

During thymic development, the beta selection checkpoint is regulated by pre-T-cell receptor-initiated signals. Progression through this checkpoint is influenced by phosphorylation and activation of the serine/threonine kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2, but the in vivo relevance of specific upstream players leading to ERK activation is not known. Here, using mice with a conditional loss of the shc1 gene or expressing mutants of ShcA, we demonstrate that the adapter protein ShcA is responsible for up to 70% of ERK activation in double-negative (DN) thymocytes in vivo and ex vivo. We also identify two specific tyrosines on ShcA that promote ERK phosphorylation in vivo, and mice expressing ShcA with mutations of these tyrosines show impaired DN thymocyte development. This work provides the first in vivo demonstration of the relative requirement of upstream adapters in controlling ERK activation during beta selection and suggests a dominant role for ShcA.

Lck couples Shc to TCR signaling

Recent genetic evidence demonstrated that Shc is a critical molecule for T cell activation and differentiation. However, how Shc is coupled to the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) has not been clearly characterized. Here we report that the tyrosine kinase Lck functions as a connecting molecule for TCR and Shc. Lck plays a critical role in TCR signal transduction by phosphorylating the immuno-receptor tyrosine based activation motif (ITAM). Our data shows that the PTB domain of Shc binds the SH2/3 domains of Lck in a phosphotyrosine-independent manner. Inhibition of the Lck/Shc interaction led to the loss of IL-2 promoter activation, confirming that the role of Shc in IL-2 production requires its interaction with Lck. Together, the data show that Shc is connected to the activated TCR via direct interaction with Lck.

Neural-specific inactivation of ShcA results in increased embryonic neural progenitor apoptosis and microencephaly

Brain size is precisely regulated during development and involves coordination of neural progenitor cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The adapter protein ShcA transmits signals from receptor tyrosine kinases via MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)/Akt signaling pathways. In the CNS, ShcA expression is high during embryonic development but diminishes as cells differentiate and switches to ShcB/Sck/Sli and ShcC/N-Shc/Rai. To directly test ShcA function in brain development, we used Cre/lox technology to express a dominant-negative form of ShcA (ShcFFF) in nestin-expressing neural progenitors. ShcFFF-expressing mice display microencephaly with brain weights reduced to 50% of littermate controls throughout postnatal and adult life. The cerebrum appeared most severely affected, but the gross architecture of the brain is normal. Body weight was mildly affected with a delay in reaching mature weight. At a mechanistic level, the ShcFFF microencephaly phenotype appears to be primarily attributable to elevated apoptosis levels throughout the brain from embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) to E12, which declined by E14.5. Apoptosis remained at normal basal levels throughout postnatal development. Proliferation indices were not significantly altered in the embryonic neuroepithelium or within the postnatal subventricular zone. In another approach with the same nestin-Cre transgene, conditional deletion of ShcA in mice with a homozygous floxed shc1 locus also showed a similar microencephaly phenotype. Together, these data suggest a critical role for ShcA in neural progenitor survival signaling and in regulating brain size.

Adhesion- and degranulation-promoting adapter protein is required for efficient thymocyte development and selection

Adhesion- and degranulation-promoting adapter protein (ADAP) is required in TCR-induced activation and proliferation of peripheral T cells. Loss of ADAP also impairs TCR-initiated inside-out activation of the integrin LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18, alphaLbeta2). In this study, we demonstrate that ADAP-deficient CD4/CD8 double-positive (DP) cells have a diminished ability to proliferate, and that these DP thymocytes up-regulate CD69 poorly in vivo. Moreover, in both MHC class I- and class II-restricted TCR transgenic models, loss of ADAP interferes with both positive and negative selection. ADAP deficiency also impairs the ability of transgene-bearing DP thymocytes to form conjugates with Ag-loaded presenting cells. These findings suggest that ADAP is critical for thymocyte development and selection.

Inflammatory disease and lymphomagenesis caused by deletion of the Myc antagonist Mnt in T cells

Mnt is a Max-interacting protein that can antagonize the activities of Myc oncoproteins in cultured cells. Mnt null mice die soon after birth, but conditional deletion of Mnt in breast epithelium leads to tumor formation. These and related data suggest that Mnt functions as a tumor suppressor. Here we show that conditional deletion of Mnt in T cells leads to tumor formation but also causes inflammatory disease. Deletion of Mnt caused increased apoptosis of thymic T cells and interfered with T-cell development yet led to spleen, liver, and lymph node enlargement. The proportion of T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes was reduced, and the numbers of cells in non-T-cell immune cell populations were elevated. The disruption of immune homeostasis is linked to a strong skewing toward production of T-helper 1 (Th1) cytokines and enhanced proliferation of activated Mnt-deficient CD4+ T cells. Consistent with Th1 polarization in vivo, extensive intestinal inflammation and liver necrosis developed. Finally, most mice lacking Mnt in T cells ultimately succumbed to T-cell lymphoma. These results strengthen the argument that Mnt functions as a tumor suppressor and reveal a critical and surprising role for Mnt in the regulation of T-cell development and in T-cell-dependent immune homeostasis.

The function of the neuronal proteins Shc and huntingtin in stem cells and neurons: pharmacologic exploitation for human brain diseases

The identification of intracellular molecules and soluble factors that are important for neuronal differentiation and survival are of critical importance for development of therapeutic strategies for brain diseases. First, the activity of these factors/molecules may be enhanced in vivo in the attempt to induce proper neuronal differentiation and integration of the resident stem cells. Second, these factors may be applied ex vivo to increase the recovery of neurons from stem cells. Third, for those intracellular molecules that play crucial roles in neuronal survival, identification of their downstream targets may give us the chance to develop drug screening assays that use these targets for therapeutic purposes. In recent years, it has become evident that intracellular signaling processes are critical mediators of the responses of neural stem cells and neurons to growth factors. Analysis of the mechanisms of signal transduction has led to the striking finding that a handful of conserved signaling pathways appear to be used in different combinations to specify a wide variety of tissues or cells. This review will focus on the mechanisms by which specific molecules control the transition from proliferation to differentiation of neural progenitor cells and the subsequent survival of postmitotic neurons; it also discusses how this knowledge may be exploited to increase the potential efficacy of stem cell replacement in the damaged brain.

The timing of TCR alpha expression critically influences T cell development and selection

Sequential rearrangement of the T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) beta and alpha chains is a hallmark of thymocyte development. This temporal control is lost in TCR transgenics because the alpha chain is expressed prematurely at the CD4- CD8- double negative (DN) stage. To test the importance of this, we expressed the HY alpha chain at the physiological CD4+ CD8+ double positive (DP) stage. The reduced DP and increased DN cellularity typically seen in TCR transgenics was not observed when the alpha chain was expressed at the appropriate stage. Surprisingly, antigen-driven selection events were also altered. In male mice, thymocyte deletion now occurred at the single positive or medullary stage. In addition, no expansion of CD8 alpha alpha intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) was observed, despite the fact that HY transgenics have been used to model IEL development. Collectively, these data establish the importance of proper timing of TCR expression in thymic development and selection and emphasize the need to use models that most accurately reflect the physiologic process.

Cooperation and selectivity of the two Grb2 binding sites of p52Shc in T-cell antigen receptor signaling to Ras family GTPases and Myc-dependent survival

Shc proteins participate in a variety of processes regulating cell proliferation, survival and apoptosis. The two ubiquitously expressed isoforms, p52Shc/p46Shc, couple tyrosine kinase receptors to Ras by recruiting Grb2/Sos complexes to a membrane-proximal localization. Tyrosine residues 239/240 and 317 become phosphorylated following receptor engagement and, as such, form two Grb2 binding sites, which have been proposed to be differentially coupled to Myc-dependent survival and to fos-dependent proliferation, respectively. Here, we have addressed the individual function of YY239/240 and Y317 in T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling. We show that p52Shc is phosphorylated on both YY239/240 and Y317 following TCR engagement. Mutation of either YY239/240 or Y317 results in impaired interaction with Grb2 and inhibition of Ras/MAP kinase activation and CD69 induction, supporting a role for both Grb2 binding sites in this function. Substitution of either YY239/240 or Y317 also results in a defective activation of Rac and the coupled stress kinases JNK and p38. Furthermore, mutation of Y317 or, to a larger extent, of YY239/240, results in increased activation-induced cell death, which in cells expressing the FF239/240 mutant is accompanied by impaired TCR-dependent c-myc transcription. The data underline a pleiotropic and nonredundant role of Shc, mediated by both YY239/240 and Y317, in T-cell activation and survival.

p53 prevents maturation of T cell development to the immature CD4-CD8+ stage in Bcl11b-/- mice

Signaling pathways such as the pre-TCR and Wnt pathways regulate alpha/beta T cell differentiation in thymus. Mice lacking an essential component of the pre-TCR exhibit arrest at the (CD4(-)CD8(-)) (CD44(-)CD25(+)) stage (DN3) of thymocyte development, and introduction of p53 deficiency into those mice abrogates this arrest, resulting in transition to the (CD4(+)CD8(+)) double-positive (DP) stage. This paper examines the effect of inactivation of p53 on thymocyte development in Bcl11b(-/-) mice that exhibit arrest at the DN3 or (CD4(-)CD8(+)) immature single-positive (ISP) stage. No DP thymocytes were detected in thymocytes of adoptive transfer experiments in scid mice that were derived from p53(-/-)Bcl11b(-/-) precursors but ISP thymocytes increased in the proportion and in the cell number approximately three times higher than those from Bcl11b(-/-) precursors. Consistently, the level of apoptosis decreased to the level of wild-type precursors. These results suggest that inactivation of p53 is sufficient for DN3 thymocytes to differentiate into the ISP, but not to DP, stage of thymocyte development in Bcl11b(-/-) mice. This provides evidence for a novel p53-mediated checkpoint that regulates the transition from the DN3 to ISP stage of thymocyte development.

Adaptors and linkers in T and B cells

By mediating non-covalent protein-protein interactions, adaptors organize and assemble the multimolecular signalling complexes that coordinate intracellular programs leading to the activation and differentiation of lymphocytes. The co-ordinated interaction between adaptor and effector molecules is required for the propagation and dynamic modification of externally applied signals. Recent advances have been made regarding our understanding of how adaptors regulate signalling within lymphocytes. An unexpected function has been revealed for the well-known adaptor protein LAT in pre-B-cell receptor signalling. In addition, the adaptors BCAP, Bcl10, CARMA1 and Malt1 seem to regulate the development of particular B-cell subsets. In contrast to Shc, c-Cbl and LAT, which are involved in early signalling events, BCAP, Bcl10, CARMA1 and Malt1 seem to act more distally, by controlling NF-kappaB activation. Additional transmembrane adaptors, such as NTAL/LAB and LIME, have been identified and partially characterized. Finally, an involvement of the cytosolic adaptors ADAP, SKAP-55 and Cbl-b in the regulation of lymphocyte adhesion and migration has been demonstrated.

Critical functions for c-Myb at three checkpoints during thymocyte development

The transcription factor c-Myb is expressed throughout T cell development in the thymus. However, little is understood about c-Myb function because of the embryonic lethality of traditional Myb-null mutations. Using tissue-specific deletion to abrogate c-Myb expression at distinct stages of T cell development, we identify three points at which c-Myb activity is required for normal T cell differentiation: transition through the double-negative 3 stage, survival of preselection CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes, and differentiation of CD4 thymocytes. Thus, c-Myb is essential at several stages during T cell development in the thymus.

Signalling in T-lymphocyte development: integration of signalling pathways is the key

alpha beta T-cell development is restricted to the thymus. Interactions between developing lymphocytes and the thymic stroma, together with bone-marrow-derived monocytes and dendritic cells, are critical for proper development of the T-cell lineage. The developmental sequence through which T-cell progenitors pass on their way to maturity is well established, and can be followed by the sequential acquisition and/or removal of cell surface molecules. Using the combination of modern genetic manipulations, such as transgenesis, gene ablation (knockouts) and targeted mutagenesis (knock-ins), with the ever-improving conditional and inducible manipulation of gene expression, we are beginning to gain an understanding of how intercellular interactions can be relayed via intracellular signalling cascades to bring about nuclear re-organisation and the differentiated mature CD4(+) and CD8(+) subpopulations.

p66SHC promotes apoptosis and antagonizes mitogenic signaling in T cells

Of the three Shc isoforms, p66Shc is responsible for fine-tuning p52/p46Shc signaling to Ras and has been implicated in apoptotic responses to oxidative stress. Here we show that human peripheral blood lymphocytes and mouse thymocytes and splenic T cells acquire the capacity to express p66Shc in response to apoptogenic stimulation. Using a panel of T-cell transfectants and p66Shc(-/-) T cells, we show that p66Shc expression results in increased susceptibility to apoptogenic stimuli, which depends on Ser36 phosphorylation and correlates with an altered balance in apoptosis-regulating gene expression. Furthermore, p66Shc blunts mitogenic responses to T-cell receptor engagement, at least in part by transdominant inhibition of p52Shc signaling to Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinases, in an S36-dependent manner. The data highlight a novel interplay between p66Shc and p52Shc in the control of T-cell fate.

Neural stem and progenitor cells: choosing the right Shc

Neural stem cell (NSCs) are self-renewing, multipotent cells able to generate neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Since their identification, these properties have made NSCs an attractive subject for therapeutic applications to the damaged brain. In this context, understanding the mechanisms and the molecules regulating their biological properties is important and it is focused to gain control over their proliferative and differentiative potential. Here we will discuss values and unsolved aspects of the system and the employment of potentially key molecular targets for proper control of NSCs fate.

Non-redundant Role of Shc in Erk Activation by Cytoskeletal Reorganization

We have shown previously that cytoskeletal reorganization (CSR) induced by pharmacological reagents such as colchicine or cytochalasins can up-regulate the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene via the Ras/Erk signaling pathway. In this present study using the small interfering RNA technique, we have found that ShcA adapter proteins play a rather active role in CSR-induced Erk activation, contrary to their mostly redundant role in other signaling pathways, e.g. growth factor-induced Erk activation, where Grb2 can bind directly to the receptor tyrosine kinase and activate Erk in the absence of ShcA. ShcA knockdown abolished CSR-induced activation of both Erk and the uPA promoter. Expression of small interfering RNA-escaping silent mutants of p52 or p46 but not p66 ShcA isoform efficiently rescued CSR-induced Erk activation. Moreover, we have shown that phosphorylation of either Tyr-239/Tyr-240 or Tyr-313 in p52(ShcA) can mediate CSR-induced Erk activation equally well. In a quest for molecules upstream of ShcA in this signaling, we found that CSR-induced ShcA tyrosine phosphorylation, its association with Grb2, Erk activation, and uPA gene expression were all dependent on Rho kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Src. In summary, we have found a novel, non-redundant role for ShcA in contrast to its redundant role in many other signaling pathways.

Shc-dependent pathway is redundant but dominant in MAPK cascade activation by EGF receptors: a modeling inference

In cell signaling cascades, one stimulus often leads to various physiological functions by multiple pathways. Perturbation of one pathway by blocking or overexpressing one of its components will result in changes in multiple pathways and multiple cell functions. Thus, it is important to reveal the relative contribution of each pathway to each function in order to assess the consequence of perturbations (e.g. drug delivery). By exploring an established mathematical model, the Shc-dependent pathway is found to be both redundant and dominant during activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Its dominance results from the majority consumption of the common precursor ((EGF-EGFR*)2-GAP) by this pathway. The key steps for the dominance are the binding and phosphorylation of Shc. In conclusion, cells may prefer the long Shc-dependent pathway to the short Shc-independent pathway.

Adaptor proteins in lymphocyte activation

Adaptor proteins are unique, as they contain modular domains and lack intrinsic enzymatic activity. These proteins are scaffolds for the organization of macromolecular complexes and they recruit other proteins for correct localization during molecular signal transduction. Numerous recent advances have been made through the elucidation of new adaptor proteins and the recognition of novel functions for previously identified molecules. In addition, the roles of adaptors in both the positive and negative regulation of lymphocyte activation have been further clarified.

Bcl11b is required for differentiation and survival of alphabeta T lymphocytes

The gene Bcl11b, which encodes zinc finger proteins, and its paralog, Bcl11a, are associated with immune-system malignancies. We have generated Bcl11b-deficient mice that show a block at the CD4-CD8- double-negative stage of thymocyte development without any impairment in cells of B- or gammadelta T cell lineages. The Bcl11b-/- thymocytes showed unsuccessful recombination of V(beta) to D(beta) and lacked the pre-T cell receptor (TCR) complex on the cell surface, owing to the absence of Tcrb mRNA expression. In addition, we saw profound apoptosis in the thymus of neonatal Bcl11b-/- mice. These results suggest that Bcl11b is a key regulator of both differentiation and survival during thymocyte development.

Regulation of thymocyte development: only the meek survive

T cell antigen receptor-induced signals are required for normal T cell development and function. Recent studies have investigated the mechanism(s) by which signals of different strengths are converted into distinct cellular fates during thymocyte development. These studies indicate the importance of the strength and duration of signals activated through PLC and PKC pathways in shaping the mature TCR repertoire.

The Ras/MAPK cascade and the control of positive selection

Immature double positive (DP) thymocytes bearing a T cell receptor (TCR) that interacts with self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules receive signals that induce either their differentiation (positive selection) or apoptosis (negative selection). Furthermore, those cells that are positively selected develop into two different lineages, CD4 or CD8, depending on whether their TCRs bind to MHC class II or I, respectively. Positive selection therefore involves rescue from the default fate (death), lineage commitment, and progression to the single positive (SP) stage. These are probably temporally distinct events that may require both unique and overlapping signals. Work in the past several years has started to unravel the signaling networks that control these processes. One of the first pathways identified as important for positive selection was Ras and its downstream effector, the Erk mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. In this review we examine the factors that connect the TCR to the Ras/Erk cascade in DP thymocytes, as well as what we know about the downstream effectors of the Ras/Erk cascade important for positive selection. We also consider the possible role of this cascade in CD4/CD8 lineage development, and the possible interactions of the Ras/Erk cascade with Notch during these cell fate determination processes.

Role of Shc in T-cell development and function

Shc is a prototype adapter protein that is expressed from the earliest stages of T-cell development. Shc becomes rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated after T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement. Expression of dominant negative forms of Shc in T-cell lines had also suggested a role for this adapter downstream of the TCR. However, until recently, the relative significance of Shc compared to several other adapters in T cells was unclear. Mice lacking Shc expression specifically in the T-cell lineage together with inducible expression of dominant negative Shc in transgenic mice have revealed an essential and nonredundant role for Shc in thymic T-cell development. Functional defects in a Jurkat T-cell line lacking Shc expression also suggest a role for Shc in mature T-cell functions. While the requirement of Shc in T-cell signaling is now established, precisely what signaling pathways downstream of Shc make this adapter unique are less clear. Although the Shc-mediated activation of the extracellular signal regulated kinase (Erk)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway could be one component, Shc likely signals to other pathways in T cells that are not yet discovered. A better molecular understanding of Shc function in the future could provide insights into how multiple adapters coordinate the various outcomes downstream of the TCR.

Kinetic perspectives of T cell antigen receptor signaling. A two-tier model for T cell full activation

T-cell activation consists of multiple layers of signaling events. Interleukin-2 production is of interest for many, since its expression determines a critical difference between partial and full T-cell activation. To achieve full activation of T cells, it is necessary for the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) to be engaged for an extended period of time. However, why extended stimulation is required for full T-cell activation is not understood at the molecular level. In this review, orchestrated events of TCR signal transduction will be analyzed in a kinetic manner and connected toward the understanding of the mechanism of T-cell activation. Based on recent results, a model of the mechanism that dictates the threshold between partial and full T-cell activation is proposed.