Loss of c-Cbl RING finger function results in high-intensity TCR signaling and thymic deletion

The balance between antiviral and antibacterial responses during M. tuberculosis infection is regulated by the ubiquitin ligase CBL

As a first line of host defense, macrophages must be able to effectively sense and respond to diverse types of pathogens, and while a particular type of immune response may be beneficial in some circumstances, it can be detrimental in others. Upon infecting a macrophage, M. tuberculosis (Mtb) induces proinflammatory cytokines that activate antibacterial responses. Surprisingly, Mtb also triggers antiviral responses that actually hinder the ability of macrophages to control Mtb infection. The ubiquitin ligase CBL suppresses these antiviral responses and shifts macrophages toward a more antibacterial state during Mtb infection, however, the mechanisms by which CBL regulates immune signaling are unknown. We found that CBL controls responses to multiple stimuli and broadly suppresses the expression of antiviral effector genes. We then used mass-spectrometry to investigate potential CBL substrates and identified over 46,000 ubiquitylated peptides in Mtb-infected macrophages, as well as roughly 400 peptides with CBL-dependent ubiquitylation. We then performed genetic interaction analysis of CBL and its putative substrates, and identified the Fas associated factor 2 (FAF2) adapter protein as a key signaling molecule protein downstream of CBL. Together, these analyses identify thousands of new ubiquitin-mediated signaling events during the innate immune response and reveal an important new regulatory hub in this response.

CBL mutations drive PI3K/AKT signaling via increased interaction with LYN and PIK3R1

Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (CBL) encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase and signaling adaptor that regulates receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Recurrent CBL mutations occur in myeloid neoplasms, including 10% to 20% of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) cases, and selectively disrupt the protein's E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. CBL mutations have been associated with poor prognosis, but the oncogenic mechanisms and therapeutic implications of CBL mutations remain incompletely understood. We combined functional assays and global mass spectrometry to define the phosphoproteome, CBL interactome, and mechanism of signaling activation in a panel of cell lines expressing an allelic series of CBL mutations. Our analyses revealed that increased LYN activation and interaction with mutant CBL are key drivers of enhanced CBL phosphorylation, phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1) recruitment, and downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling in CBL-mutant cells. Signaling adaptor domains of CBL, including the tyrosine kinase-binding domain, proline-rich region, and C-terminal phosphotyrosine sites, were all required for the oncogenic function of CBL mutants. Genetic ablation or dasatinib-mediated inhibition of LYN reduced CBL phosphorylation, CBL-PIK3R1 interaction, and PI3K/AKT signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative efficacy of dasatinib in CBL-mutant cell lines and primary CMML. Overall, these mechanistic insights into the molecular function of CBL mutations provide rationale to explore the therapeutic potential of LYN inhibition in CBL-mutant myeloid malignancies.

LFA-1 signals to promote actin polymerization and upstream migration in T cells

T cell entry into inflamed tissue requires firm adhesion, cell spreading, and migration along and through the endothelial wall. These events require the T cell integrins LFA-1 and VLA-4 and their endothelial ligands ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, respectively. T cells migrate against the direction of shear flow on ICAM-1 and with the direction of shear flow on VCAM-1, suggesting that these two ligands trigger distinct cellular responses. However, the contribution of specific signaling events downstream of LFA-1 and VLA-4 has not been explored. Using primary mouse T cells, we found that engagement of LFA-1, but not VLA-4, induces cell shape changes associated with rapid 2D migration. Moreover, LFA-1 ligation results in activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and ERK pathways, and phosphorylation of multiple kinases and adaptor proteins, whereas VLA-4 ligation triggers only a subset of these signaling events. Importantly, T cells lacking Crk adaptor proteins, key LFA-1 signaling intermediates, or the ubiquitin ligase cCbl (also known as CBL), failed to migrate against the direction of shear flow on ICAM-1. These studies identify novel signaling differences downstream of LFA-1 and VLA-4 that drive T cell migratory behavior.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

CD5 dynamically calibrates basal NF-κB signaling in T cells during thymic development and peripheral activation

Immature T cells undergo a process of positive selection in the thymus when their new T cell receptor (TCR) engages and signals in response to self-peptides. As the T cell matures, a slew of negative regulatory molecules, including the inhibitory surface glycoprotein CD5, are up-regulated in proportion to the strength of the self-peptide signal. Together these regulators dampen TCR-proximal signaling and help avoid any subsequent peripheral activation of T cells by self-peptides. Paradoxically, antigen-specific T cells initially expressing more CD5 (CD5^hi) have been found to better persist as effector/memory cells after a peripheral challenge. The molecular mechanisms underlying such a duality in CD5 function is not clear. We found that CD5 alters the basal activity of the NF-κB signaling in resting peripheral T cells. When CD5 was conditionally ablated, T cells were unable to maintain higher expression of the cytoplasmic NF-κB inhibitor IκBα. Consistent with this, resting CD5^hi T cells expressed more of the NF-κB p65 protein than CD5^lo cells, without significant increases in transcript levels, in the absence of TCR signals. This posttranslationally stabilized cellular NF-κB depot potentially confers a survival advantage to CD5^hi T cells over CD5^lo ones. Taken together, these data suggest a two-step model whereby the strength of self-peptide-induced TCR signal lead to the up-regulation of CD5, which subsequently maintains a proportional reserve of NF-κB in peripheral T cells poised for responding to agonistic antigen-driven T cell activation.

After 95 years, it's time to eRASe JMML

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML) is a rare clonal disorder of early childhood. Constitutive activation of the RAS pathway is the initial event in JMML. Around 90% of patients diagnosed with JMML carry a mutation in the PTPN11, NRAS, KRAS, NF1 or CBL genes. It has been demonstrated that after this first genetic event, an additional somatic mutation or epigenetic modification is involved in disease progression. The available genetic and clinical data have enabled researchers to establish relationships between JMML and several clinical conditions, including Noonan syndrome, Ras-associated lymphoproliferative disease, and Moyamoya disease. Despite scientific progress and the development of more effective treatments, JMML is still a deadly disease: the 5-year survival rate is ~50%. Here, we report on recent research having led to a better understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in JMML.

Crk adaptor proteins mediate actin-dependent T cell migration and mechanosensing induced by the integrin LFA-1

T cell entry into inflamed tissue involves firm adhesion, spreading, and migration of the T cells across endothelial barriers. These events depend on "outside-in" signals through which engaged integrins direct cytoskeletal reorganization. We investigated the molecular events that mediate this process and found that T cells from mice lacking expression of the adaptor protein Crk exhibited defects in phenotypes induced by the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), namely, actin polymerization, leading edge formation, and two-dimensional cell migration. Crk protein was an essential mediator of LFA-1 signaling-induced phosphorylation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl and its subsequent interaction with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) subunit p85, thus promoting PI3K activity and cytoskeletal remodeling. In addition, we found that Crk proteins were required for T cells to respond to changes in substrate stiffness, as measured by alterations in cell spreading and differential phosphorylation of the force-sensitive protein CasL. These findings identify Crk proteins as key intermediates coupling LFA-1 signals to actin remodeling and provide mechanistic insights into how T cells sense and respond to substrate stiffness.

A novel CBL-Bflox/flox mouse model allows tissue-selective fully conditional CBL/CBL-B double-knockout: CD4-Cre mediated CBL/CBL-B deletion occurs in both T-cells and hematopoietic stem cells

CBL-family ubiquitin ligases are critical negative regulators of tyrosine kinase signaling, with a clear redundancy between CBL and CBL-B evident in the immune cell and hematopoietic stem cell studies. Since CBL and CBL-B are negative regulators of immune cell activation, elimination of their function to boost immune cell activities could be beneficial in tumor immunotherapy. However, mutations of CBL are associated with human leukemias, pointing to tumor suppressor roles of CBL proteins; hence, it is critical to assess the tumor-intrinsic roles of CBL and CBL-B in cancers. This has not been possible since the only available whole-body CBL-B knockout mice exhibit constitutive tumor rejection. We engineered a new CBL-Bflox/flox mouse, combined this with an existing CBLflox/flox mouse to generate CBLflox/flox; CBL-Bflox/flox mice, and tested the tissue-specific concurrent deletion of CBL and CBL-B using the widely-used CD4-Cre transgenic allele to produce a T-cell-specific double knockout. Altered T-cell development, constitutive peripheral T-cell activation, and a lethal multi-organ immune infiltration phenotype largely resembling the previous Lck-Cre driven floxed-CBL deletion on a CBL-B knockout background establish the usefulness of the new model for tissue-specific CBL/CBL-B deletion. Unexpectedly, CD4-Cre-induced deletion in a small fraction of hematopoietic stem cells led to expansion of certain non-T-cell lineages, suggesting caution in the use of CD4-Cre for T-cell-restricted gene deletion. The establishment of a new model of concurrent tissue-selective CBL/CBL-B deletion should allow a clear assessment of the tumor-intrinsic roles of CBL/CBL-B in non-myeloid malignancies and help test the potential for CBL/CBL-B inactivation in immunotherapy of tumors.

VAV1-Cre mediated hematopoietic deletion of CBL and CBL-B leads to JMML-like aggressive early-neonatal myeloproliferative disease

CBL and CBL-B ubiquitin ligases play key roles in hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis and their aberrations are linked to leukemogenesis. Mutations of CBL, often genetically-inherited, are particularly common in Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML), a disease that manifests early in children. JMML is fatal unless corrected by bone marrow transplant, which is effective in only half of the recipients, stressing the need for animal models that recapitulate the key clinical features of this disease. However, mouse models established so far only develop hematological malignancy in adult animals. Here, using VAV1-Cre-induced conditional CBL/CBL-B double knockout (DKO) in mice, we established an animal model that exhibits a neonatal myeloproliferative disease (MPD). VAV1-Cre induced DKO mice developed a strong hematological phenotype at postnatal day 10, including severe leukocytosis and hepatomegaly, bone marrow cell hypersensitivity to cytokines including GM-CSF, and rapidly-progressive disease and invariable lethality. Interestingly, leukemic stem cells were most highly enriched in neonatal liver rather than bone marrow, which, along with the spleen and thymus, were hypo-cellular. Nonetheless, transplantation assays showed that both DKO bone marrow and liver cells can initiate leukemic disease in the recipient mice with seeding of both spleen and bone marrow. Together, our results support the usefulness of the new hematopoietic-specific CBL/CBL-B double KO animal model to study JMML-related pathogenesis and to further understand the function of CBL family proteins in regulating fetal and neonatal hematopoiesis. To our knowledge, this is the first mouse model that exhibits neonatal MPD in infancy, by day 10 of postnatal life.

Loss of Cbl and Cbl-b ubiquitin ligases abrogates hematopoietic stem cell quiescence and sensitizes leukemic disease to chemotherapy

Cbl and Cbl-b are tyrosine kinase-directed RING finger type ubiquitin ligases (E3s) that negatively regulate cellular activation pathways. E3 activity-disrupting human Cbl mutations are associated with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) that are reproduced in mice with Cbl RING finger mutant knock-in or hematopoietic Cbl and Cbl-b double knockout. However, the role of Cbl proteins in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homeostasis, especially in the context of MPD is unclear. Here we demonstrate that HSC expansion and MPD development upon combined Cbl and Cbl-b deletion are dependent on HSCs. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that DKO HSCs exhibit reduced quiescence associated with compromised reconstitution ability and propensity to undergo exhaustion. We show that sustained c-Kit and FLT3 signaling in DKO HSCs promotes loss of colony-forming potential, and c-Kit or FLT3 inhibition in vitro protects HSCs from exhaustion. In vivo, treatment with 5-fluorouracil hastens DKO HSC exhaustion and protects mice from death due to MPD. Our data reveal a novel and leukemia therapy-relevant role of Cbl and Cbl-b in the maintenance of HSC quiescence and protection against exhaustion, through negative regulation of tyrosine kinase-coupled receptor signaling.

Human IgG1 antibodies suppress angiogenesis in a target-independent manner

Aberrant angiogenesis is implicated in diseases affecting nearly 10% of the world’s population. The most widely used anti-angiogenic drug is bevacizumab, a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets human VEGFA. Although bevacizumab does not recognize mouse Vegfa, it inhibits angiogenesis in mice. Here we show bevacizumab suppressed angiogenesis in three mouse models not via Vegfa blockade but rather Fc-mediated signaling through FcγRI (CD64) and c-Cbl, impairing macrophage migration. Other approved humanized or human IgG1 antibodies without mouse targets (adalimumab, alemtuzumab, ofatumumab, omalizumab, palivizumab and tocilizumab), mouse IgG2a, and overexpression of human IgG1-Fc or mouse IgG2a-Fc, also inhibited angiogenesis in wild-type and FcγR humanized mice. This anti-angiogenic effect was abolished by Fcgr1 ablation or knockdown, Fc cleavage, IgG-Fc inhibition, disruption of Fc-FcγR interaction, or elimination of FcRγ-initated signaling. Furthermore, bevacizumab’s Fc region potentiated its anti-angiogenic activity in humanized VEGFA mice. Finally, mice deficient in FcγRI exhibited increased developmental and pathological angiogenesis. These findings reveal an unexpected anti-angiogenic function for FcγRI and a potentially concerning off-target effect of hIgG1 therapies.

Cell regulation by phosphotyrosine-targeted ubiquitin ligases

Three classes of E3 ubiquitin ligases, members of the Cbl, Hakai, and SOCS-Cul5-RING ligase families, stimulate the ubiquitination of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins, including receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases and their phosphorylated substrates. Because ubiquitination frequently routes proteins for degradation by the lysosome or proteasome, these E3 ligases are able to potently inhibit tyrosine kinase signaling. Their loss or mutational inactivation can contribute to cancer, autoimmunity, or endocrine disorders, such as diabetes. However, these ligases also have biological functions that are independent of their ubiquitination activity. Here we review relevant literature and then focus on more-recent developments in understanding the structures, substrates, and pathways through which the phosphotyrosine-specific ubiquitin ligases regulate diverse aspects of cell biology.

Loss of c-Cbl E3 ubiquitin ligase activity enhances the development of myeloid leukemia in FLT3-ITD mutant mice

Mutations in the Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) occur frequently in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with the most common involving internal tandem duplication (ITD) within the juxtamembrane domain. Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3-ITD mutations result in a mislocalized and constitutively activated receptor, which aberrantly phosphorylates signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) and upregulates the expression of its target genes. c-Cbl is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that negatively regulates RTKs, including FLT3, but whether it can downregulate mislocalized FLT3-ITD remains to be resolved. To help clarify this, we combined a FLT3-ITD mutation with a loss-of-function mutation in the RING finger domain of c-Cbl that abolishes its E3 ligase activity. Mice transplanted with hematopoietic stem cells expressing both mutations rapidly develop myeloid leukemia, indicating strong cooperation between the two. Although the c-Cbl mutation was shown to cause hyperactivation of another RTK, c-Kit, it had no effect on enhancing FLT3-ITD protein levels or STAT5 activation. This indicates that c-Cbl does not downregulate FLT3-ITD and that the leukemia is driven by independent pathways involving FLT3-ITD's activation of STAT5 and mutant c-Cbl's activation of other RTKs, such as c-Kit. This study highlights the importance of c-Cbl's negative regulation of wild-type RTKs in suppressing FLT3-ITD-driven myeloid leukemia.

Loss of Cbl-PI3K interaction in mice prevents significant bone loss following ovariectomy

Cbl and Cbl-b are E3 ubiquitin ligases and adaptor proteins, which perform regulatory roles in bone remodeling. Cbl-/- mice have delayed bone development due to decreased osteoclast migration. Cbl-b-/- mice are osteopenic due to increased bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts. Unique to Cbl, but not present in Cbl-b, is tyrosine 737 in the YEAM motif, which upon phosphorylation provides a binding site for the regulatory p85 subunit of PI3K. Substitution of tyrosine 737 with phenylalanine (Y737F, CblYF/YF mice) prevents Y737 phosphorylation and abrogates the Cbl-PI3K interaction. We have previously reported that CblYF/YF mice had increased bone volume due to defective bone resorption and increased bone formation. Here we show that the lumbar vertebra from CblYF/YF mice did not have significant bone loss following ovariectomy. Our data also suggests that abrogation of Cbl-PI3K interaction in mice results in the loss of coupling between bone resorption and formation, since ovariectomized CblYF/YF mice did not show significant changes in serum levels of c-terminal telopeptide (CTX), whereas the serum levels of pro-collagen type-1 amino-terminal pro-peptide (P1NP) were decreased. In contrast, following ovariectomy, Cbl-/- and Cbl-b-/- mice showed significant bone loss in the tibiae and L2 vertebrae, concomitant with increased serum CTX and P1NP levels. These data indicate that while lack of Cbl or Cbl-b distinctly affects bone remodeling, only the loss of Cbl-PI3K interaction protects mice from significant bone loss following ovariectomy.

Dasatinib targets B-lineage cells but does not provide an effective therapy for myeloproliferative disease in c-Cbl RING finger mutant mice

This study aimed to determine whether the multi-kinase inhibitor dasatinib would provide an effective therapy for myeloproliferative diseases (MPDs) involving c-Cbl mutations. These mutations, which occur in the RING finger and linker domains, abolish the ability of c-Cbl to function as an E3 ubiquitin ligase and downregulate activated protein tyrosine kinases. Here we analyzed the effects of dasatinib in a c-Cbl RING finger mutant mouse that develops an MPD with a phenotype similar to the human MPDs. The mice are characterized by enhanced tyrosine kinase signaling resulting in an expansion of hematopoietic stem cells, multipotent progenitors and cells within the myeloid lineage. Since c-Cbl is a negative regulator of c-Kit and Src signaling we reasoned that dasatinib, which targets these kinases, would be an effective therapy. Furthermore, two recent studies showed dasatinib to be effective in inhibiting the in vitro growth of cells from leukemia patients with c-Cbl RING finger and linker domain mutations. Surprisingly we found that dasatinib did not provide an effective therapy for c-Cbl RING finger mutant mice since it did not suppress any of the hematopoietic lineages that promote MPD development. Thus we conclude that dasatinib may not be an appropriate therapy for leukemia patients with c-Cbl mutations. We did however find that dasatinib caused a marked reduction of pre-B cells and immature B cells which correlated with a loss of Src activity. This study is therefore the first to provide a detailed characterization of in vivo effects of dasatinib in a hematopoietic disorder that is driven by protein tyrosine kinases other than BCR-ABL.

CBL linker region and RING finger mutations lead to enhanced granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) signaling via elevated levels of JAK2 and LYN

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is characterized by hypersensitivity to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). SHP2, NF-1, KRAS, and NRAS are mutated in JMML patients, leading to aberrant regulation of RAS signaling. A subset of JMML patients harbor CBL mutations associated with 11q acquired uniparental disomy. Many of these mutations are in the linker region and the RING finger of CBL, leading to a loss of E3 ligase activity. We investigated the mechanism by which CBL-Y371H, a linker region mutant, and CBL-C384R, a RING finger mutant, lead to enhanced GM-CSF signaling. Expression of CBL mutants in the TF-1 cell line resulted in enhanced survival in the absence of GM-CSF. Cells expressing CBL mutations displayed increased phosphorylation of GM-CSF receptor βc subunit in response to stimulation, although expression of total GM-CSFR βc was lower. This suggested enhanced kinase activity downstream of GM-CSFR. JAK2 and LYN kinase expression is elevated in CBL-Y371H and CBL-C384R mutant cells, resulting in enhanced phosphorylation of CBL and S6 in response to GM-CSF stimulation. Incubation with the JAK2 inhibitor, TG101348, abolished the increased phosphorylation of GM-CSFR βc in cells expressing CBL mutants, whereas treatment with the SRC kinase inhibitor dasatinib resulted in equalization of GM-CSFR βc phosphorylation signal between wild type CBL and CBL mutant samples. Dasatinib treatment inhibited the elevated phosphorylation of CBL-Y371H and CBL-C384R mutants. Our study indicates that CBL linker and RING finger mutants lead to enhanced GM-CSF signaling due to elevated kinase expression, which can be blocked using small molecule inhibitors targeting specific downstream pathways.

Syndecan-2 can promote clearance of T-cell receptor/CD3 from the cell surface

T cells express the heparan sulphate proteoglycans syndecan-2 and syndecan-4. Syndecan-4 plays a T-cell inhibitory role; however, the function of syndecan-2 is unknown. In an attempt to examine this function, syndecan-2 was expressed constitutively in Jurkat T cells. Interestingly, the expression of syndecan-2 decreased the surface levels of T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex, concomitant with intracellular retention of CD3ε and partial degradation of the TCR-ζ chain. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that intracellular CD3ε co-located with Rab-4 endosomes. However, the intracellular pool of CD3ε did not recycle to the cell surface. The lower TCR/CD3 surface levels caused by syndecan-2 led to reduced TCR/CD3 responsiveness. We show that the cytosolic PDZ-binding domain of syndecan-2 is not necessary to elicit TCR/CD3 down-regulation. These results identify a previously unrecognized means of controlling surface TCR/CD3 expression by syndecan-2.

Flt3 inhibitor AC220 is a potent therapy in a mouse model of myeloproliferative disease driven by enhanced wild-type Flt3 signaling

High levels of expression of wild-type Flt3 characterize many hematopoietic proliferative diseases and neoplasms, providing a potential therapeutic target. Using the c-Cbl RING finger mutant mouse as a model of a myeloproliferative disease (MPD) driven by wild-type Flt3, in the present study, we show that treatment with the Flt3 kinase inhibitor AC220 blocks MPD development by targeting Flt3+ multipotent progenitors (MPPs). We found that daily administration of AC220 caused a marked reduction in Flt3 expression, induction of quiescence, and a significant loss of MPPs within 4 days. Unexpectedly, a robust Flt3 ligand–associated proliferative recovery response soon followed, preventing further loss of MPPs. However, continued AC220 treatment limited MPP recovery and maintained reduced, steady-state levels of cycling MPPs that express low levels of Flt3. Therefore, a finely tuned balance between the opposing forces of AC220 and Flt3 ligand production was established; whereas the Flt3 ligand blunted the inhibitory effects of AC220, the disease was held in remission for as long as therapy was continued. The net effect is a potent therapy indicating that patients with c-Cbl mutations, or those with similarly enhanced Flt3 signaling, may respond well to AC220 even after the induction of high levels of Flt3 ligand.

Protein tyrosine kinase regulation by ubiquitination: critical roles of Cbl-family ubiquitin ligases

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) coordinate a broad spectrum of cellular responses to extracellular stimuli and cell-cell interactions during development, tissue homeostasis, and responses to environmental challenges. Thus, an understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that ensure physiological PTK function and potential aberrations of these regulatory processes during diseases such as cancer are of broad interest in biology and medicine. Aside from the expected role of phospho-tyrosine phosphatases, recent studies have revealed a critical role of covalent modification of activated PTKs with ubiquitin as a critical mechanism of their negative regulation. Members of the Cbl protein family (Cbl, Cbl-b and Cbl-c in mammals) have emerged as dominant "activated PTK-selective" ubiquitin ligases. Structural, biochemical and cell biological studies have established that Cbl protein-dependent ubiquitination targets activated PTKs for degradation either by facilitating their endocytic sorting into lysosomes or by promoting their proteasomal degradation. This mechanism also targets PTK signaling intermediates that become associated with Cbl proteins in a PTK activation-dependent manner. Cellular and animal studies have established that the relatively broadly expressed mammalian Cbl family members Cbl and Cbl-b play key physiological roles, including their critical functions to prevent the transition of normal immune responses into autoimmune disease and as tumor suppressors; the latter function has received validation from human studies linking mutations in Cbl to human leukemia. These newer insights together with embryonic lethality seen in mice with a combined deletion of Cbl and Cbl-b genes suggest an unappreciated role of the Cbl family proteins, and by implication the ubiquitin-dependent control of activated PTKs, in stem/progenitor cell maintenance. Future studies of existing and emerging animal models and their various cell lineages should help test the broader implications of the evolutionarily-conserved Cbl family protein-mediated, ubiquitin-dependent, negative regulation of activated PTKs in physiology and disease.

Protein tyrosine kinase regulation by ubiquitination: critical roles of Cbl-family ubiquitin ligases

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) coordinate a broad spectrum of cellular responses to extracellular stimuli and cell-cell interactions during development, tissue homeostasis, and responses to environmental challenges. Thus, an understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that ensure physiological PTK function and potential aberrations of these regulatory processes during diseases such as cancer are of broad interest in biology and medicine. Aside from the expected role of phospho-tyrosine phosphatases, recent studies have revealed a critical role of covalent modification of activated PTKs with ubiquitin as a critical mechanism of their negative regulation. Members of the Cbl protein family (Cbl, Cbl-b and Cbl-c in mammals) have emerged as dominant "activated PTK-selective" ubiquitin ligases. Structural, biochemical and cell biological studies have established that Cbl protein-dependent ubiquitination targets activated PTKs for degradation either by facilitating their endocytic sorting into lysosomes or by promoting their proteasomal degradation. This mechanism also targets PTK signaling intermediates that become associated with Cbl proteins in a PTK activation-dependent manner. Cellular and animal studies have established that the relatively broadly expressed mammalian Cbl family members Cbl and Cbl-b play key physiological roles, including their critical functions to prevent the transition of normal immune responses into autoimmune disease and as tumor suppressors; the latter function has received validation from human studies linking mutations in Cbl to human leukemia. These newer insights together with embryonic lethality seen in mice with a combined deletion of Cbl and Cbl-b genes suggest an unappreciated role of the Cbl family proteins, and by implication the ubiquitin-dependent control of activated PTKs, in stem/progenitor cell maintenance. Future studies of existing and emerging animal models and their various cell lineages should help test the broader implications of the evolutionarily-conserved Cbl family protein-mediated, ubiquitin-dependent, negative regulation of activated PTKs in physiology and disease.

The E3 ligase c-Cbl regulates dendritic cell activation

The activation of innate and adaptive immunity is always balanced by inhibitory signalling mechanisms to maintain tissue integrity. We have identified the E3 ligase c-Cbl--known for its roles in regulating lymphocyte signalling--as a modulator of dendritic cell activation. In c-Cbl-deficient dendritic cells, Toll-like receptor-induced expression of proinflammatory factors, such as interleukin-12, is increased, correlating with a greater potency of dendritic-cell-based vaccines against established tumours. This proinflammatory phenotype is accompanied by an increase in nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity. In addition, c-Cbl deficiency reduces both p50 and p105 levels, which have been shown to modulate the stimulatory function of NF-κB. Our data indicate that c-Cbl has a crucial, RING-domain-dependent role in regulating dendritic cell maturation, probably by facilitating the regulatory function of p105 and/or p50.

Indispensable roles of mammalian Cbl family proteins as negative regulators of protein tyrosine kinase signaling: Insights from in vivo models

All higher eukaryotes utilize protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) as molecular switches to control a variety of cellular signals. Notably, many PTKs have been identified as proto-oncogenes whose aberrant expression, mutations or co-option by pathogens can lead to human malignancies. Thus, it is obvious that PTK functions must be precisely regulated in order to maintain homeostasis of an organism. Investigations over the past fifteen years have revealed that members of the Cbl family proteins can serve as negative regulators of PTK signaling, and biochemical and cell biological studies have unraveled the mechanistic basis of this regulation. Yet, it is only recently that the field has begun to appreciate the real significance of this novel regulatory apparatus in shaping PTK-mediated signaling in organismic contexts and in human diseases. Here, we discuss recent progress in murine models that are beginning to provide insights into the critical roles of Cbl proteins in physiological pathways, with important implications in understanding how aberrations of Cbl proteins contribute to oncogenesis.

Mutant Cbl proteins as oncogenic drivers in myeloproliferative disorders

Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (Cbl) family proteins are evolutionarily-conserved attenuators of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) signaling. Biochemical analyses over the past two decades have firmly established that the negative regulatory functions of Cbl proteins are mediated through their ability to facilitate ubiquitination and thus promote degradation of PTKs. As aberrant activation of PTKs is frequently associated with oncogenesis, it has long been postulated that loss of normal Cbl functions may lead to unregulated activation of PTKs and cellular transformation. In the last few years, mutations in the CBL gene have been identified in a subset of human patients with myeloid malignancies. Here we discuss insights gained from the analyses of Cbl mutants both in human patients and in animal models and propose potential mechanisms of oncogenesis through this pathway.

Essential role of E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in Cbl-b-regulated T cell functions

E3 ubiquitin ligases have been placed among the essential molecules involved in the regulation of T cell functions and T cell tolerance. However, it has never been experimentally proven in vivo whether these functions indeed depend on the catalytic E3 ligase activity. The Casitas B-cell lymphoma (Cbl) family protein Cbl-b was the first E3 ubiquitin ligase directly implicated in the activation and tolerance of the peripheral T cell. In this study, we report that selective genetic inactivation of Cbl-b E3 ligase activity phenocopies the T cell responses observed when total Cbl-b is ablated, resulting in T cell hyperactivation, spontaneous autoimmunity, and impaired induction of T cell anergy in vivo. Moreover, mice carrying a Cbl-b E3 ligase-defective mutation spontaneously reject tumor cells that express human papilloma virus Ags. These data demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that the catalytic function of an E3 ligase, Cbl-b, is essential for negative regulation of T cells in vivo. Thus, modulation of the E3 ligase activity of Cbl-b might be a novel modality to control T cell immunity in vaccination, cancer biology, or autoimmunity.

Myeloid leukemia development in c-Cbl RING finger mutant mice is dependent on FLT3 signaling

Although myeloid leukemias are primarily caused by leukemic stem cells, the molecular basis of their transformation remains largely unknown. Here, by analyzing mice with a mutation in the RING finger domain of c-Cbl, we show that the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of c-Cbl is required to restrict myeloid leukemia development. These mice develop a myeloproliferative disease which progresses to leukemia and involves hematopoietic progenitors that exhibit augmented FLT3 signaling. Suppressing this signaling through matings with FLT3 ligand knockout mice prevents leukemia development. We also observe enhanced c-Kit, Akt and Erk activity, and deregulated expression of leukemia-associated transcription factors in hematopoietic progenitors. The characterization of these perturbations provides direction for therapeutics that may aid the treatment of patients with c-Cbl mutations.

The loss of Cbl-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase interaction perturbs RANKL-mediated signaling, inhibiting bone resorption and promoting osteoclast survival

Cbl is an adaptor protein and an E3 ligase that plays both positive and negative roles in several signaling pathways that affect various cellular functions. Tyrosine 737 is unique to Cbl and is phosphorylated by Syk and Src family kinases. Phosphorylated Cbl Tyr(737) creates a binding site for the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K, which also plays an important role in the regulation of bone resorption by osteoclasts. To investigate the role of Cbl-PI3K interaction in bone homeostasis, we examined the knock-in mice (Cbl(YF/YF)) in which the PI3K binding site in Cbl is ablated due to the mutation in the regulatory tyrosine. We report that in Cbl(YF/YF) mice, despite increased numbers of osteoclasts, bone volume is increased due to defective osteoclast function. Additionally, in ex vivo cultures, mature Cbl(YF/YF) osteoclasts showed an increased ability to survive in the presence of RANKL due to delayed onset of apoptosis. RANKL-mediated signaling is perturbed in Cbl(YF/YF) osteoclasts, and most interestingly, AKT phosphorylation is up-regulated, suggesting that the lack of PI3K sequestration by Cbl results in increased survival and decreased bone resorption. Cumulatively, these in vivo and in vitro results show that, on one hand, binding of Cbl to PI3K negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation, survival, and signaling events (e.g. AKT phosphorylation), whereas on the other hand it positively influences osteoclast function.

Rapidly fatal myeloproliferative disorders in mice with deletion of Casitas B-cell lymphoma (Cbl) and Cbl-b in hematopoietic stem cells

Casitas B-cell lymphoma (Cbl)-family E3 ubiquitin ligases are negative regulators of tyrosine kinase signaling. Recent work has revealed a critical role of Cbl in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homeostasis, and mutations in CBL have been identified in myeloid malignancies. Here we show that, in contrast to Cbl or Cbl-b single-deficient mice, concurrent loss of Cbl and Cbl-b in the HSC compartment leads to an early-onset lethal myeloproliferative disease in mice. Cbl, Cbl-b double-deficient bone marrow cells are hypersensitive to cytokines, and show altered biochemical response to thrombopoietin. Thus, Cbl and Cbl-b play redundant but essential roles in HSC regulation, whose breakdown leads to hematological abnormalities that phenocopy crucial aspects of mutant Cbl-driven human myeloid malignancies.

Cbl and human myeloid neoplasms: the Cbl oncogene comes of age

Cbl was originally discovered in 1989 as the cellular homolog of the v-Cbl oncogene, the transforming gene of the Cas NS-1 murine retrovirus that causes myeloid leukemia and lymphomas in mice. Cbl is a member of a family of RING finger ubiquitin ligases that negatively regulate signaling by tyrosine kinases and that function as adaptor proteins to regulate signaling positively. Until the past 2 years, there was little evidence that Cbl proteins were involved in human malignancies. Recent publications have shown homozygous mutations in Cbl in human myeloid neoplasms. Although in vitro and animal transformation models suggested that mutant forms of Cbl acted as an oncogene, the cellular role suggested that the protein could serve as a tumor suppressor gene. The recent data begin to reconcile this paradox as the loss of ubiquitin ligase function (the tumor suppressor function) is coupled to the maintenance of the positive signaling function (the oncogene function). These data also provide insight into potential therapeutic approaches to myeloid disorders harboring Cbl mutations.

CD45-Csk phosphatase-kinase titration uncouples basal and inducible T cell receptor signaling during thymic development

The kinase-phosphatase pair Csk and CD45 reciprocally regulate phosphorylation of the inhibitory tyrosine of the Src family kinases Lck and Fyn. T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and thymic development require CD45 expression but proceed constitutively in the absence of Csk. Here, we show that relative titration of CD45 and Csk expression reveals distinct regulation of basal and inducible TCR signaling during thymic development. Low CD45 expression is sufficient to rescue inducible TCR signaling and positive selection, whereas high expression is required to reconstitute basal TCR signaling and beta selection. CD45 has a dual positive and negative regulatory role during inducible but not basal TCR signaling. By contrast, Csk titration regulates basal but not inducible signaling. High physiologic expression of CD45 is thus required for two reasons-to downmodulate inducible TCR signaling during positive selection and to counteract Csk during basal TCR signaling.

c-Cbl deficiency leads to diminished lymphocyte development and functions in an age-dependent manner

Aging is broadly defined as a progressive decline of tissue and organ functions due to deregulation of various cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In the immune system, aging preferentially affects lymphopoiesis and thus results in the reduced competence of the adaptive immune system in the elderly. Despite recent discoveries that shed light on the molecular basis of aging, pathways that lead to diminished lymphoid development in aging individuals remain largely unknown. In the present study, we document that a deficiency of the E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl in lymphocytes results in an age-dependent lymphopenia. c-Cbl-deficient mice show normal frequencies of lymphocytes at 12 weeks of age; however, their development and functions were remarkably diminished at 24 weeks after birth. Intriguingly, c-Cbl mutant lymphocytes displayed increased responses to IL7 in vitro and failed to down-regulate surface levels of IL7Ralpha. Further, our biochemical studies have identified an interaction of c-Cbl with IL7Ralpha and have unraveled the involvement of c-Cbl in the ubiquitylation of IL7Ralpha. In essence, our studies demonstrate that a lack of signaling events mediated by c-Cbl might result in diminished lymphocyte development and functions, particularly, at the later stages of life.

Unaltered negative selection and Treg development of self-reactive thymocytes in TCR transgenic Fyn-deficient mice

The tyrosine kinase Fyn has been implicated as playing an important role in the generation of both stimulatory and inhibitory signaling events induced by TCR engagement. To assess the role of Fyn for antigen-driven negative selection and Treg development, which are both dependent on the strength and nature of TCR signaling, we generated mice that co-express the transgenes for OVA and the OT-II TCR, which recognizes a peptide from OVA. In mice expressing both transgenes, negative selection, Treg development in the thymus, and the number of Treg in the periphery were each unaffected by ablation of Fyn. Moreover, fyn(-/-) Treg were functional, as assessed in vitro. We further tested the role of Fyn for the adaptor function of c-Cbl, using mice containing a point mutation in c-Cbl that abolishes its E3 ubiquitin ligase function but maintains its adaptor function. The functional and signaling properties of this mutant c-Cbl were unaltered in fyn(-/-) thymocytes. Combined, these data indicate that Fyn was not required for the induction of central tolerance by negative selection, the adaptor protein role of c-Cbl, or the normal development and function of Treg.

c-Cbl promotes T cell receptor-induced thymocyte apoptosis by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway

The ability of thymocytes to assess T cell receptor (TCR) signaling strength and initiate the appropriate downstream response is crucial for determining their fate. We have previously shown that a c-Cbl RING finger mutant knock-in mouse, in which the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of c-Cbl is inactivated, is highly sensitive to TCR-induced death signals that cause thymic deletion. This high intensity signal involves the enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of the mutant c-Cbl protein promoting a marked increase in the activation of Akt. Here we show that this high intensity signal in c-Cbl RING finger mutant thymocytes also promotes the enhanced induction of two mediators of TCR-directed thymocyte apoptosis, Nur77 and the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, Bim. In contrast, a knock-in mouse harboring a mutation at Tyr-737, the site in c-Cbl that activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, shows reduced TCR-mediated responses including suppression of Akt activation, a reduced induction of Nur77 and Bim, and greater resistance to thymocyte death. These findings identify tyrosine-phosphorylated c-Cbl as a critical sensor of TCR signal strength that regulates the engagement of death-promoting signals.

Regulation of T-cell tolerance by calcium/NFAT signaling

Cells that escape negative selection in the thymus must be inactivated or eliminated in the periphery through a series of mechanisms that include the induction of anergy, dominant suppression by regulatory T cells, and peripheral deletion of self-reactive T cells. Calcium signaling plays a central role in the induction of anergy in T cells, which become functionally inactivated and incapable of proliferating and expressing cytokines following antigen re-encounter. Suboptimal stimulation of T cells results in the activation of a calcium/calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells-dependent cell-intrinsic program of self-inactivation. The proteins encoded by those genes are required to impose a state of functional unresponsiveness through different mechanisms that include downregulation of T-cell receptor signaling and inhibition of cytokine transcription.

Degradation of activated protein kinases by ubiquitination

Protein kinases are important regulators of intracellular signal transduction pathways and play critical roles in diverse cellular functions. Once a protein kinase is activated, its activity is subsequently downregulated through a variety of mechanisms. Accumulating evidence indicates that the activation of protein kinases commonly initiates their downregulation via the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. Failure to regulate protein kinase activity or expression levels can cause human diseases.

Frequent CBL mutations associated with 11q acquired uniparental disomy in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Recent evidence has demonstrated that acquired uniparental disomy (aUPD) is a novel mechanism by which pathogenetic mutations in cancer may be reduced to homozygosity. To help identify novel mutations in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), we performed a genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) screen to identify aUPD in 58 patients with atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML; n = 30), JAK2 mutation-negative myelofibrosis (MF; n = 18), or JAK2 mutation-negative polycythemia vera (PV; n = 10). Stretches of homozygous, copy neutral SNP calls greater than 20Mb were seen in 10 (33%) aCML and 1 (6%) MF, but were absent in PV. In total, 7 different chromosomes were involved with 7q and 11q each affected in 10% of aCML cases. CBL mutations were identified in all 3 cases with 11q aUPD and analysis of 574 additional MPNs revealed a total of 27 CBL variants in 26 patients with aCML, myelofibrosis or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Most variants were missense substitutions in the RING or linker domains that abrogated CBL ubiquitin ligase activity and conferred a proliferative advantage to 32D cells overexpressing FLT3. We conclude that acquired, transforming CBL mutations are a novel and widespread pathogenetic abnormality in morphologically related, clinically aggressive MPNs.

Lymphocyte signaling: beyond knockouts

The analysis of lymphocyte signaling was greatly enhanced by the advent of gene targeting, which allows the selective inactivation of a single gene. Although this gene 'knockout' approach is often informative, in many cases, the phenotype resulting from gene ablation might not provide a complete picture of the function of the corresponding protein. If a protein has multiple functions within a single or several signaling pathways, or stabilizes other proteins in a complex, the phenotypic consequences of a gene knockout may manifest as a combination of several different perturbations. In these cases, gene targeting to 'knock in' subtle point mutations might provide more accurate insight into protein function. However, to be informative, such mutations must be carefully based on structural and biophysical data.

p85beta phosphoinositide 3-kinase regulates CD28 coreceptor function

CD28 is a receptor expressed on T cells that regulates their differentiation after antigen stimulation to long-term-survival memory T cells. CD28 enhances T-cell receptor signals and reduces expression of CBL ubiquitin ligases, which negatively control T-cell activation. In the absence of CD28 ligation during the primary stimulation, CBL levels remain high and T cells fail to mount an efficient secondary response. CD28 associates with p85alpha, one of the regulatory subunits of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), but the relevance of this interaction is debated. We examined here the contribution of the other ubiquitous PI3K regulatory subunit, p85beta, in CD28 function. We describe that p85beta bound to CD28 and to CBL with greater affinity than p85alpha. Moreover, deletion of p85beta impaired CD28-induced intracellular events, including c-CBL and CBL-b down-regulation as well as PI3K pathway activation. This resulted in defective differentiation of activated T cells, which failed to exhibit an efficient secondary immune response. Considering that p85beta-deficient T cells fail in recall responses and that p85beta binds to and regulates CD28 signals, the presented observations suggest the involvement of p85beta in CD28-mediated activation and differentiation of antigen-stimulated T cells.

Thymic alterations in mice deficient for the SNARE protein VAMP8/endobrevin

SNARE (soluble-N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor) proteins mediate the recognition and fusion of transport vesicles in eukaryotic cells. The SNARE protein VAMP8 (also called endobrevin) is involved in the fusion of late endosomes and in some pathways of regulated exocytosis. In a subset of mice deficient for the SNARE protein VAMP8, a severe alteration of the thymus and in T lymphocyte development was observed and characterized. The size of the thymus and the number of thymocytes were dramatically reduced compared with those in heterozygous littermates. Further, the compartmentalization into cortex and medulla and the organization of the thymus epithelium were disturbed. The numbers of all thymocyte subpopulations were reduced, with the CD4 and CD8 double-positive thymocytes being most severely affected. The proportion of proliferating thymocytes was reduced, and the staining of apoptotic cells in situ and ex vivo indicated an increased number of apoptotic cells. Isolated thymocytes of Vamp8^−/− mice were more susceptible to various apoptotic stimuli including glucocorticoids, FAS receptor, and CD3/CD28-mediated signaling in vitro, even before an increased number of apoptotic cells was detectable in situ. However, bone marrow of phenotypically affected Vamp8^−/− mice was readily able to repopulate immunodeficient hosts suggesting that the SNARE protein VAMP8 has a specific function in the thymic stroma affecting the proliferation and apoptosis of T lymphocytes during maturation in the thymus.

Molecular targeting of E3 ligases--a therapeutic approach for cancer

BACKGROUND

The ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation pathway plays a critical role in protein degradation and regulates a wide variety of cellular functions. This highly conserved post-translational modification of proteolytic processes is mainly carried out by substrate-specific E3 ligases. The deregulation of E3 ligases contributes to cancer development and their overexpression is often associated with poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVES

We review the current understanding of E3 ligases, their functional role in cancer pathogenesis, current progress and development of certain ubiquitin E3 ligases as targets for therapeutic intervention.

METHODS

Preclinical and clinical data for E3 ligase inhibitors available in the public domain are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

With the growing understanding of their role in cancer development and progression, E3 ligases have emerged as potential anticancer targets for therapeutic intervention.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl restricts development and functions of hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are multipotent progenitors that give rise to all types of blood cells. In the present study, we document that HSC development and functions are negatively regulated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl (casitas B-cell lymphoma). HSCs of c-Cbl(-/-) mice exhibit augmented pool size, hyperproliferation, greater competence, and enhanced long-term repopulating capacity. Our mechanistic studies identified that c-Cbl(-/-) HSCs are hyperresponsive to thrombopoietin (TPO) and display elevated levels of STAT5 phosphorylation, thus leading to increased c-Myc expression. In essence, our data unequivocally identify c-Cbl as a novel negative regulator of developmental and functional properties of HSCs.

c-Cbl expression levels regulate the functional responses of human central and effector memory CD4 T cells

The biochemical mechanisms controlling the diverse functional outcomes of human central memory (CM) and effector memory (EM) T-cell responses triggered through the T-cell receptor (TCR) remain poorly understood. We implemented reverse phase protein arrays to profile TCR signaling components in human CD8 and CD4 memory T-cell subsets isolated ex vivo. As compared with CD4 CM cells, EM cells express statistically significant increased amounts of SLP-76 and reduced levels of c-Cbl, Syk, Fyn, and LAT. Moreover, in EM cells reduced expression of negative regulator c-Cbl correlates with expression of c-Cbl kinases (Syk and Fyn), PI3K, and LAT. Importantly, consistent with reduced expression of c-Cbl, EM cells display a lower functional threshold than CM cells. Increasing c-Cbl content of EM cells to the same level as that of CM cells using cytosolic transduction, we impaired their proliferation and cytokine production. This regulatory mechanism depends primarily on c-Cbl E3 ubiquitin ligase activity as evidenced by the weaker impact of enzymatically deficient c-Cbl C381A mutant on EM cell functions. Our study reports c-Cbl as a critical regulator of the functional responses of memory T cell subsets and identifies for the first time in humans a mechanism controlling the functional heterogeneity of memory CD4 cells.

PIP3 pathway in regulatory T cells and autoimmunity

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in preventing both autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Many recent studies have focused on defining the signal transduction pathways essential for the development and the function of Tregs. Increasing evidence suggest that T-cell receptor (TCR), interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor (IL-2R), and co-stimulatory receptor signaling are important in the early development, peripheral homeostasis, and function of Tregs. The phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)-regulated pathway (PIP3 pathway) is one of the major signaling pathways activated upon TCR, IL-2R, and CD28 stimulation, leading to T-cell activation, proliferation, and cell survival. Activation of the PIP3 pathway is also negatively regulated by two phosphatidylinositol phosphatases SHIP and PTEN. Several mouse models deficient for the molecules involved in PIP3 pathway suggest that impairment of PIP3 signaling leads to dysregulation of immune responses and, in some cases, autoimmunity. This review will summarize the current understanding of the importance of the PIP3 pathway in T-cell signaling and the possible roles this pathway performs in the development and the function of Tregs.

CD8+ T cells are associated with severe gastritis in Helicobacter pylori-infected mice in the absence of CD4+ T cells

Helicobacter pylori infection results in the development of chronic gastritis, and CD4+ T cells are a major component of the gastric cellular infiltrate. To examine whether CD4+ T cells are important in initiating and maintaining H. pylori-induced gastritis, mice deficient in CD4+ T cells (B6.BM1.GK 1.5 mice [GK 1.5 mice]) were infected with H. pylori. We found that as in normal mice, H. pylori-specific antibodies, mostly of the immunoglobulin M isotype, developed in GK 1.5 mice but were unable to cure H. pylori infection. Further, while the stomachs of H. pylori-infected GK 1.5 mice were more heavily infiltrated with CD8+ T cells and B cells, mice deficient in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells developed mild inflammation comparable to the level observed for C57BL/6 mice. These observations suggest that CD4+ T cells may play an important role in regulating or suppressing gastric CD8+ T cells which, in the absence of CD4+ T cells, may mediate more-severe disease. These studies have revealed a potentially important role for CD8+ T cells in the gastric disease resulting from H. pylori infection.

c-Cbl-mediated regulation of LAT-nucleated signaling complexes

The engagement of the T-cell receptor (TCR) causes the rapid recruitment of multiple signaling molecules into clusters with the TCR. Upon receptor activation, the adapters LAT and SLP-76, visualized as chimeric proteins tagged with yellow fluorescent protein, transiently associate with and then rapidly dissociate from the TCR. Previously, we demonstrated that after recruitment into signaling clusters, SLP-76 is endocytosed in vesicles via a lipid raft-dependent pathway that requires the interaction of the endocytic machinery with ubiquitylated proteins. In this study, we focus on LAT and demonstrate that signaling clusters containing this adapter are internalized into distinct intracellular compartments and dissipate rapidly upon TCR activation. The internalization of LAT was inhibited in cells expressing versions of the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl mutated in the RING domain and in T cells from mice lacking c-Cbl. Moreover, c-Cbl RING mutant forms suppressed LAT ubiquitylation and caused an increase in cellular LAT levels, as well as basal and TCR-induced levels of phosphorylated LAT. Collectively, these data indicate that following the rapid formation of signaling complexes upon TCR stimulation, c-Cbl activity is involved in the internalization and possible downregulation of a subset of activated signaling molecules.

The Cbl-b RING finger domain has a limited role in regulating inflammatory cytokine production by IgE-activated mast cells

The RING finger type E3 ubiquitin ligase, Cbl-b, is abundantly expressed in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and functions as a potent negative regulator of signalling responses from the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcvarepsilonRI). To determine the contribution of Cbl-b E3 ligase activity we generated knockin mice with a loss-of-function mutation in the RING finger domain. We find the mice to be healthy and, unlike equivalent c-Cbl RING finger mutant mice, produce homozygous offspring at the expected frequency. Comparative analyses of BMMCs from Cbl-b knockout and Cbl-b RING finger mutant mice revealed that both showed similarly enhanced FcvarepsilonRI signalling compared to wild-type cells for most parameters examined. A notable exception was a markedly higher level of activation of IkappaB kinase (IKK) in Cbl-b knockout BMMC compared to RING finger mutant-derived cells. In addition BMMCs from the Cbl-b RING finger mutant did not retard FcvarepsilonRI internalization to the extent observed for knockout cells. Most striking however was the finding that RING finger mutant mast cells do not produce the very high levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and MCP-1 evident in Cbl-b knockout cultures following FcvarepsilonRI activation. Thus the ability of Cbl-b to function as a negative regulator of FcvarepsilonRI signalling that promotes inflammatory cytokine production is largely independent of the RING finger domain.

Flt3-dependent transformation by inactivating c-Cbl mutations in AML

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), mutational activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) Flt3 is frequently involved in leukemic transformation. However, little is known about a possible role of highly expressed wild-type Flt3 in AML. The proto-oncogene c-Cbl is an important regulator of RTK signaling, acting through its ubiquitin ligase activity and as a platform for several signaling adaptor molecules. Here, we analyzed the role of c-Cbl in Flt3 signal transduction and myeloid transformation. C-Cbl physically interacted with Flt3 and was tyrosine phosphorylated in the presence of Flt3-ligand (FL). Overexpression of a dominant-negative form of c-Cbl (Cbl-70Z) inhibited FL-induced Flt3 ubiquitylation and internalization, indicating involvement of c-Cbl in Flt3 signaling. DNA sequencing of AML bone marrow revealed a case with a c-Cbl point mutation (Cbl-R420Q). Cbl-R420Q inhibited Flt3 internalization and ubiquitylation. Coexpression of Cbl-R420Q or Cbl-70Z with Flt3 induced cytokine-independent growth and survival of 32Dcl3 cells in the absence of FL. Also, the mutant Cbl proteins altered the amplitude and duration of Flt3-dependent signaling events. Our results indicate an important role of Cbl proteins in Flt3 signal modulation. Also, the data suggest a novel mechanism of leukemic transformation in AML by mutational inactivation of negative RTK regulators.

Molecular mechanisms of CD4+ T-cell anergy

Directing both innate and adaptive immune responses against foreign pathogens with correct timing, location and specificity is a fundamental objective for the immune system. Full activation of CD4+ T cells requires the binding of peptide-MHC complexes coupled with accessory signals provided by the antigen-presenting cell. However, aberrant activation of the T-cell receptor alone in mature T cells can produce a long-lived state of functional unresponsiveness, known as anergy. Recent studies probing both immune signalling pathways and the ubiquitin-proteasome system have helped to refine and elaborate current models for the molecular mechanisms underlying T-cell anergy. Controlling anergy induction and maintenance will be a key component in the future to mitigate unwanted T-cell activation that leads to autoimmune disease.

The tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 regulates differentiation and apoptosis of individual primary T lymphocytes

Although phosphatases are key players of intracellular processes, not much is known about the phosphatase SHP-2 during T cell differentiation. Here we show that ectopic over-expression of SHP-2 in primary T helper cells directly reduced the frequency of individual lymphocytes expressing pro-inflammatory cytokines after antigen-specific stimulation by a mechanism impairing activation of protein kinase C. In addition we demonstrate that SHP-2 mediates enhanced migration upon CXCR4 signaling in a G-protein-dependent manner. Most strikingly, SHP-2 mediated a dramatic increase in apoptosis by highly enhanced activation of caspases. Co-immunoprecipitations of SHP-2 and c-Cbl from primary T helper cells demonstrated that SHP-2 strongly interacts with the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl, indicating that c-Cbl could mediate the negative signals of SHP-2. Our results show that SHP-2 signal transduction regulates central checkpoints of T cell differentiation by the activation of distinct signaling cascades.