Interleukin 2-mediated uncoupling of T cell receptor alpha/beta from CD3 signaling

The pool of preactivated Lck in the initiation of T-cell signaling: a critical re-evaluation of the Lck standby model

The initiation of T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling, based on the cobinding of TCR and CD4-Lck heterodimer to a peptide-major histocompatibility complex II on antigen presenting cells, represents a classical model of T-cell signaling. What is less clear however, is the mechanism which translates TCR engagement to the phosphorylation of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs on CD3 chains and how this event is coupled to the delivery of Lck function. Recently proposed 'standby model of Lck' posits that resting T-cells contain an abundant pool of constitutively active Lck (pY394(Lck)) required for TCR triggering, and this amount, upon TCR engagement, remains constant. Here, we show that although maintenance of the limited pool of pY394(Lck) is necessary for the generation of TCR proximal signals in a time-restricted fashion, the total amount of this pool, ~2%, is much smaller than previously reported (~40%). We provide evidence that this dramatic discrepancy in the content of pY394(Lck)is likely the consequence of spontaneous phosphorylation of Lck that occurred after cell solubilization. Additional discrepancies can be accounted for by the sensitivity of different pY394(Lck)-specific antibodies and the type of detergents used. These data suggest that reagents and conditions used for the quantification of signaling parameters must be carefully validated and interpreted. Thus, the limited size of pY394(Lck) pool in primary T-cells invites a discussion regarding the adjustment of the quantitative parameters of the standby model of Lck and reevaluation of the mechanism by which this pool contributes to the generation of proximal TCR signaling.

The adaptor protein SAP directly associates with CD3ζ chain and regulates T cell receptor signaling

Mutations altering the gene encoding the SLAM associated protein (SAP) are responsible for the X-linked lymphoproliferative disease or XLP1. Its absence is correlated with a defective NKT cells development, a decrease in B cell functions and a reduced T cells and NK cells cytotoxic activities, thus leading to an immunodeficiency syndrome. SAP is a small 128 amino-acid long protein that is almost exclusively composed of an SH2 domain. It has been shown to interact with the CD150/SLAM family of receptors, and in a non-canonical manner with SH3 containing proteins such as Fyn, βPIX, PKCθ and Nck1. It would thus play the role of a minimal adaptor protein. It has been shown that SAP plays an important function in the activation of T cells through its interaction with the SLAM family of receptors. Therefore SAP defective T cells display a reduced activation of signaling events downstream of the TCR-CD3 complex triggering. In the present work, we evidence that SAP is a direct interactor of the CD3ζ chain. This direct interaction occurs through the first ITAM of CD3ζ, proximal to the membrane. Additionally, we show that, in the context of the TCR-CD3 signaling, an Sh-RNA mediated silencing of SAP is responsible for a decrease of several canonical T cell signaling pathways including Erk, Akt and PLCγ1 and to a reduced induction of IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA. Altogether, we show that SAP plays a central function in the T cell activation processes through a direct association with the CD3 complex.

Lck, Membrane Microdomains, and TCR Triggering Machinery: Defining the New Rules of Engagement

In spite of a comprehensive understanding of the schematics of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, the mechanisms regulating compartmentalization of signaling molecules, their transient interactions, and rearrangement of membrane structures initiated upon TCR engagement remain an outstanding problem. These gaps in our knowledge are exemplified by recent data demonstrating that TCR triggering is largely dependent on a preactivated pool of Lck concentrated in T cells in a specific type of membrane microdomains. Our current model posits that in resting T cells all critical components of TCR triggering machinery including TCR/CD3, Lck, Fyn, CD45, PAG, and LAT are associated with distinct types of lipid-based microdomains which represent the smallest structural and functional units of membrane confinement able to negatively control enzymatic activities and substrate availability that is required for the initiation of TCR signaling. In addition, the microdomains based segregation spatially limits the interaction of components of TCR triggering machinery prior to the onset of TCR signaling and allows their rapid communication and signal amplification after TCR engagement, via the process of their coalescence. Microdomains mediated compartmentalization thus represents an essential membrane organizing principle in resting T cells. The integration of these structural and functional aspects of signaling into a unified model of TCR triggering will require a deeper understanding of membrane biology, novel interdisciplinary approaches and the generation of specific reagents. We believe that the fully integrated model of TCR signaling must be based on membrane structural network which provides a proper environment for regulatory processes controlling TCR triggering.

A specific type of membrane microdomains is involved in the maintenance and translocation of kinase active Lck to lipid rafts

Lck is the principal signal-generating tyrosine kinase of the T cell activation mechanism. We have previously demonstrated that induced Lck activation outside of lipid rafts (LR) results in the rapid translocation of a fraction of Lck to LR. While this translocation predicates the subsequent production of IL-2, the mechanism underpinning this process is unknown. Here, we describe the main attributes of this translocating pool of Lck. Using fractionation of Brij58 lysates, derived from primary naive non-activated CD4(+) T cells, we show that a significant portion of Lck is associated with high molecular weight complexes representing a special type of detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) of relatively high density and sensitivity to laurylmaltoside, thus called heavy DRMs. TcR/CD4 coaggregation-mediated activation resulted in the redistribution of more than 50% of heavy DRM-associated Lck to LR in a microtubular network-dependent fashion. Remarkably, in non-activated CD4(+) T-cells, only heavy DRM-associated Lck is phosphorylated on its activatory tyrosine 394 and this pool of Lck is found to be membrane confined with CD45 phosphatase. These data are the first to illustrate a lipid microdomain-based mechanism concentrating the preactivated pool of cellular Lck and supporting its high stoichiometry of colocalization with CD45 in CD4(+) T cells. They also provide a new structural framework to assess the mechanism underpinning the compartmentalization of critical signaling elements and regulation of spatio-temporal delivery of Lck function during the T cell proximal signaling.

Peripherally induced human regulatory T cells uncouple Kv1.3 activation from TCR-associated signaling

Peripherally induced Tregs (iTregs) are being recognized as a functional and physiologically relevant T-cell subset. Understanding the molecular basis of their development is a necessary step before the therapeutic potential of iTreg manipulation can be exploited. In this study, we report that the differentiation of primary human T cells to suppressor iTregs involves the relocation of key proximal TCR signaling elements to the highly active IL-2-Receptor (IL-2-R) pathway. In addition to the recruitment of lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck) to the IL-2-R complex, we identified the dissociation of the voltage-gated K(+) channel Kv1.3 from the TCR pathway and its functional coupling to the IL-2-R. The regulatory switch of Kv1.3 activity in iTregs may constitute an important contributing factor in the signaling rewiring associated with the development of peripheral human iTregs and sheds new light upon the reciprocal crosstalk between the TCR and the IL-2-R pathways.

Direct observation and quantitative analysis of Lck exchange between plasma membrane and cytosol in living T cells

Palmitoylation represents a common motif for anchorage of cytosolic proteins to the plasma membrane. Being reversible, it allows for controlled exchange between cytosolic and plasma membrane-bound subpopulations. In this study, we present a live cell single molecule approach for quantifying the exchange kinetics of plasma membrane and cytosolic populations of fluorescently labeled Lck, the key Src family kinase involved in early T cell signaling. Total internal reflection (TIR) fluorescence microscopy was employed for confining the analysis to membrane-proximal molecules. Upon photobleaching Lck-YFP in TIR configuration, fluorescence recovery proceeds first via the cytosol outside of the evanescent field, so that in the early phase fluorescence signal arises predominantly from membrane-proximal cytosolic Lck. The diffusion constant of each molecule allowed us to distinguish whether the molecule has already associated with the plasma membrane or was still freely diffusing in the cytosol. From the number of molecules that inserted during the recovery time we quantified the insertion kinetics: on average, membrane-proximal molecules within the evanescent field needed approximately 400 ms to be inserted. The average lifetime of Lck in the plasma membrane was estimated at 50 s; together with the mobility of 0.26 microm(2)/s this provides sufficient time to explore the surface of the whole T cell before dissociation into the cytosol. Experiments on palmitoylation-deficient Lck mutants yielded similar on-rates, but substantially increased off-rates. We discuss our findings based on a model for the plasma membrane association and dissociation kinetics of Lck, which accounts for reversible palmitoylation on cysteine 3 and 5.

Lck-dependent Fyn activation requires C terminus-dependent targeting of kinase-active Lck to lipid rafts

Mechanisms regulating the activation and delivery of function of Lck and Fyn are central to the generation of the most proximal signaling events emanating from the T cell antigen receptor (TcR) complex. Recent results demonstrate that lipid rafts (LR) segregate Lck and Fyn and play a fundamental role in the temporal and spatial coordination of their activation. Specifically, TcR-CD4 co-aggregation-induced Lck activation outside LR results in Lck translocation to LR where the activation of LR-resident Fyn ensues. Here we report a structure-function analysis toward characterizing the mechanism supporting Lck partitioning to LR and its capacity to activate co-localized Fyn. Using NIH 3T3 cells ectopically expressing FynT, we demonstrate that only LR-associated, kinase-active (Y505F)Lck reciprocally co-immunoprecipitates with and activates Fyn. Mutational analyses revealed a profound reduction in the formation of Lck-Fyn complexes and Fyn activation, using kinase domain mutants K273R and Y394F of (Y505F)Lck, both of which have profoundly compromised kinase activity. The only kinase-active Lck mutants tested that revealed impaired physical and enzymatic engagement with Fyn were those involving truncation of the C-terminal sequence YQPQP. Remarkably, sequential truncation of YQPQP resulted in an increasing reduction of kinase-active Lck partitioning to LR, in both fibroblasts and T cells. This in turn correlated with an ablation of the capacity of these truncates to enhance TcR-mediated interleukin-2 production. Thus, Lck-dependent Fyn activation is predicated by proximity-mediated transphosphorylation of the Fyn kinase domain, and targeting kinase-active Lck to LR is dependent on the C-terminal sequence QPQP.

CD2BP1 modulates CD2-dependent T cell activation via linkage to protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-PEST

Human CD2 regulates T cell activation and adhesion via mechanisms yet to be fully understood. This study focuses on CD2BP1, a CD2 cytoplasmic tail-binding protein preferentially expressed in hematopoetic cells. Structural and functional analyses suggest that CD2BP1 acts as a scaffold protein, participating in regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. In this study, using a murine Ag-specific primary T cell transduction system to assess CD69, IL-2, and IFN-gamma expression, we provide evidence that CD2BP1 directly and negatively impacts T cell activation via isolated CD2 triggering or TCR stimulation dependent on coordinate CD2 engagement. Disruption of protein tyrosine phosphatase-PEST and/or CD2BP1 association with the CD2 signalsome rescues T cells from the inhibitory effect of CD2 crosslinking. The overexpression of CD2BP1 selectively attenuates phospholipase Cgamma1, ERK1/2, and p38 phosphorylation without abrogating CD2-independent TCR stimulation. This study provides new insight on the regulation of T cell activation and may have implications for autoimmune processes known to be associated with CD2BP1 mutations.

Enrichment of Lck in Lipid Rafts Regulates Colocalized Fyn Activation and the Initiation of Proximal Signals through TCRαβ

Recent results provide insight into the temporal and spatial relationship governing lck-dependent fyn activation and demonstrate TCR/CD4-induced activation and translocation of lck into lipid rafts and the ensuing activation of colocalized fyn. The prediction follows that directly targeting lck to lipid rafts will bypass the requirement for juxtaposing TCR and CD4-lck, and rescue cellular activation mediated by Ab specific for the constant region of TCRbeta chain. The present study uses a family of murine IL-2-dependent CD4(+) T cell clonal variants in which anti-TCRCbeta signaling is impaired in an lck-dependent fashion. Importantly, these variants respond to Ag- and mAb-mediated TCR-CD4 coaggregation, both of which enable the coordinated interaction of CD4-associated lck with the TCR/CD3 complex. We have previously demonstrated that anti-TCRCbeta responsiveness in this system correlates with the presence of kinase-active, membrane-associated lck and preformed hypophosphorylated TCRzeta:zeta-associated protein of 70 kDa complexes, a phenotype recapitulated in primary resting CD4(+) T cells. We show in this study that forced expression of wild-type lck achieved the same basal composition of the TCR/CD3 complex and yet did not rescue anti-TCRCbeta signaling. In contrast, forced expression of C20S/C23S-mutated lck (double-cysteine lck), unable to bind CD4, rescues anti-TCRCbeta proximal signaling and cellular growth. Double-cysteine lck targets lipid rafts, colocalizes with >98% of cellular fyn, and results in a 7-fold increase in basal fyn kinase activity. Coaggregation of CD4 and TCR achieves the same outcome. These results underscore the critical role of lipid rafts in spatially coordinating the interaction between lck and fyn that predicates proximal TCR/CD3 signaling.

BCL-2 and BCL-XL restrict lineage choice during hematopoietic differentiation

Differentiation of hematopoietic cells from multipotential progenitors is regulated by multiple growth factors and cytokines. A prominent feature of these soluble factors is promotion of cell survival, in part mediated by expression of either of the anti-apoptotic proteins, BCL-2 and BCL-XL. The complex expression pattern of these frequently redundant survival factors during hematopoiesis may indicate a role in lineage determination. To investigate the latter possibility, we analyzed factor-dependent cell-Patersen (FDCP)-Mix multipotent progenitor cells in which we stably expressed BCL-2 or BCL-XL. Each factor maintained complete survival of interleukin-3 (IL-3)-deprived FDCP-Mix cells but, unexpectedly, directed FDCP-Mix cells along restricted and divergent differentiation pathways. Thus, IL-3-deprived FDCP-Mix BCL-2 cells differentiated exclusively to granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages, whereas FDCP-Mix BCL-XL cells became erythroid. FDCP-Mix BCL-2 cells grown in IL-3 were distinguished from FDCP-Mix and FDCP-Mix BCL-XL cells by a striking reduction in cellular levels of Raf-1 protein. Replacement of the BCL-2 BH4 domain with the related BCL-XL BH4 sequence resulted in a switch of FDCP-Mix BCL-2 cells to erythroid fate accompanied by persistence of Raf-1 protein expression. Moreover, enforced expression of Raf-1 redirected FDCP-Mix BCL-2 cells to an erythroid fate, and prohibited generation of myeloid cells. These results identify novel roles for BCL-2 and BCL-XL in cell fate decisions beyond cell survival. These effects are associated with differential regulation of Raf-1 expression, perhaps involving the previously identified interaction between BCL-2-BH4 and the catalytic domain of Raf-1.

Regulation of Fyn through translocation of activated Lck into lipid rafts

Whether or how the activation of Lck and Fyn during T cell receptor (TCR) signaling is coordinated, and their delivery of function integrated, is unknown. Here we show that lipid rafts function to segregate Lck and Fyn in T cells before activation. Coaggregation of TCR and CD4 leads to Lck activation within seconds outside lipid rafts, followed by its translocation into lipid rafts and the activation of colocalized Fyn. Genetic evidence demonstrates that Fyn activation is strictly dependent on receptor-induced translocation of Lck. These results characterize the interdependence of Lck and Fyn function and establish the spatial and temporal distinctions of their roles in the cellular activation process.

Changes in the T cell receptor macromolecular signaling complex and membrane microdomains during T cell development and activation

Initiation and propagation of T cell receptor signaling pathways involves the mobilization and aggregation of a variety of signaling intermediates with the T cell receptor and associated molecules into specialized signaling complexes. Accumulating evidence suggests that differential regulation of the formation and composition of the T cell receptor macromolecular signaling complex may affect the different biological consequences of T cell activation. The regulatory mechanisms involved in the assembly of these complexes remains poorly understood, but in part is affected by the avidity of the T cell receptor ligand, co-stimulatory signals, and by the differentiation state of the T cell.

Functional and structural defects in HIV type 1 nef genes derived from pediatric long-term survivors

DNA sequences and three distinct in vitro functions of Nef were evaluated in a group of seven perinatally infected children. nef gene sequences obtained before and after virus culture showed that one of the five non-/slow progressors harbored a virus with large deletions. nef genes from the remaining four children were full length but contained discrete changes at a higher frequency than the rapid progressors. In functional studies, 40 of 44 Nef proteins derived from the whole study group were capable of binding the cellular serine kinase p62, indicating that this function is well conserved among naturally occurring viruses. In contrast, representative Nef proteins derived from the long-term non-/slow progressors were found to be defective or far less capable of enhancing viral replication and/or viral infectivity in herpesvirus saimiri-transformed human T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. On reversion of highly prevalent point mutations in the defective proteins, viral replication could be restored to wild-type levels. Our results suggest that nef genes derived from pediatric long-term nonprogressors have gross deletions in isolated cases but a higher prevalence of discrete changes that may impair Nef function in primary T cell assays, but not all functions reported for Nef.

Tetracycline-controllable selection of CD4(+) T cells: half-life and survival signals in the absence of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules

A system that allows the study, in a gentle fashion, of the role of MHC molecules in naive T cell survival is described. Major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice were engineered to express Ealpha chains only in thymic epithelial cells in a tetracycline (tet)-controllable manner. This resulted in tet-responsive display of cell surface E complexes, positive selection of CD4(+)8(-) thymocytes, and generation of a CD4(+) T cell compartment in a class II-barren periphery. Using this system, we have addressed two unresolved issues: the half-life of naive CD4(+) T cells in the absence of class II molecules (3-4 wk) and the early signaling events associated with class II molecule engagement by naive CD4(+) T cells (partial CD3 zeta chain phosphorylation and ZAP-70 association).

TCRαβ-Independent CD28 Signaling and Costimulation Require Non-CD4-Associated Lck

Whether the sequelae of signals generated through CD28 either directly or in circumstances of costimulation require proximal events mediated by p56lck remains contentious. We demonstrate that CD4−, but not CD4+ clonal variants respond to CD28-specific mAb with both early and late indicators of activation. Forced expression of A418/A420-mutated CD4 or wild-type CD4 in the CD4− variant recapitulated the CD28-mediated responses of the CD4− and CD4+ variants, respectively. The implicated involvement of non-CD4-associated Lck is formally demonstrated by overexpressing S20/S23 Lck or wild-type Lck in CD4+ variants. The former, but not latter, rescues direct CD28 signaling, and supports costimulation. The results demonstrate that constitutive levels of non-CD4-associated Lck functionally limit CD28-mediated signaling.