PTPRC (CD45) variation and disease association studied using single nucleotide polymorphism tagging

CD45 in human physiology and clinical medicine

CD45 is an evolutionary highly conserved receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase exclusively expressed on all nucleated cells of the hematopoietic system. It is characterized by the expression of several isoforms, specific to a certain cell type and the developmental or activation status of the cell. CD45 is one of the key players in the initiation of T cell receptor signaling by controlling the activation of the Src family protein-tyrosine kinases Lck and Fyn. CD45 deficiency results in T- and B-lymphocyte dysfunction in the form of severe combined immune deficiency. It also plays a significant role in autoimmune diseases and cancer as well as in infectious diseases including fungal infections. The knowledge collected on CD45 biology is rather vast, but it remains unclear whether all findings in rodent immune cells also apply to human CD45. This review focuses on human CD45 expression and function and provides an overview on its ligands and role in human pathology.

Overexpression of CD45RA isoforms in carriers of the C77G mutation leads to hyporeactivity of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ regulatory T cells

Disorders in regulatory T-cell (T(reg)) function can result in the breakdown of immunological self-tolerance. Thus, the identification of mechanisms controlling the activity of T(reg) is of great relevance. We used T(reg) from individuals carrying the C77G polymorphism as models to study the role of CD45 molecules in humans. C77G prevents splicing of CD45 exon A thereby leading to an aberrant expression pattern of CD45 isoforms in affected individuals. Resting and in vitro expanded/activated CD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp3(+) T(reg) from carriers of C77G strongly expressed CD45RA isoforms whereas these isoforms were almost absent in cells from individuals with wild-type CD45. C77G T(reg) showed diminished upregulation of activation markers, lower phosphorylation of p56(lck)(Y505) and a reduced proliferative potential when stimulated with anti-TcR or anti-TcR plus CD28 mAb suggesting decreased responsiveness to activating stimuli. In addition, the capacity to suppress proliferation of conventional CD4(+) T cells was impaired in C77G T(reg). Furthermore, microarray studies revealed distinct gene expression patterns in T(reg) from C77G carriers. These data suggest that the changes in CD45 isoform combination resulting from the C77G mutation alter the responsiveness of T(reg) to TcR-mediated signaling. Targeting CD45 isoform expression might be a useful approach to modulate T(reg) function.

Lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase and autoimmunity: human genetics rediscovers tyrosine phosphatases

A relatively large number of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are known to regulate signaling through the T cell receptor (TCR). Recent human genetics studies have shown that several of these PTPs are encoded by major autoimmunity genes. Here, we will focus on the lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase (LYP), a critical negative modulator of TCR signaling encoded by the PTPN22 gene. The functional analysis of autoimmune-associated PTPN22 genetic variants suggests that genetic variability of TCR signal transduction contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmunity in humans.