Normal development but differentially altered proliferative responses of lymphocytes in mice lacking CD81.

CD81 (TAPA-1) is a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily (TM4SF) which is expressed on the cell surface of most cells of the body throughout their cellular differentiation. It has been recognized in several cell surface complexes of lymphocytes, suggesting that it may have diverse roles in lymphocyte development and activation regulation. Mice with a CD81 null mutation revealed normal T- and conventional B-cell development, although CD19 expression on B cells was dull and B-1 cells were reduced in number. However, both T and B cells of mutant mice exhibited strikingly enhanced proliferation in response to various types of stimuli. Interestingly, while proliferative responses of T cells following T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) engagement was enhanced in the absence of CD81, B-cell proliferation in response to B-cell antigen-receptor (BCR) cross-linking was severely impaired. Despite these altered proliferative responses, both tyrosine phosphorylation and intracellular calcium flux in response to cross-linking of cell surface antigen receptors were normal in mutant mice, reflecting apparently normal initial signaling of antigen receptors. In conclusion, though CD81 is not essential for normal T- and conventional B-cell development, it plays key roles in controlling lymphocyte homeostasis by regulating lymphocyte proliferation in distinct manners, dependent on the context of stimulation.     

Syk-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation is required for the association of hematopoietic lineage cell-specific protein 1 with lipid rafts and B cell antigen receptor signalosome complex

Hematopoietic lineage cell-specific protein 1 (HS1) is an F-actin- and actin-related proteins 2 and 3 (Arp2/3)-binding protein that undergoes a rapid tyrosine phosphorylation upon B cell antigen receptor (BCR) activation. Density gradient centrifugation of Triton X-100 lysates from B lymphocytes demonstrated that HS1 was translocated in response to BCR cross-linking into lipid raft microdomain along with Arp2/3 complex and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein. HS1-green fluorescent protein was localized in membrane patches enriched with GM1 gangliosides and BCR in the cells treated with anti-IgM antibody. Colocalization of HS1-green fluorescent protein with BCR was also correlated with tyrosine phosphorylation of HS1. Interestingly a murine HS1 mutant at the tyrosine residues Tyr388 and Tyr405 targeted by Syk failed to respond to BCR cross-linking for either translocation into lipid rafts or colocalization with BCR within cells. Furthermore HS1 was unable to translocate into lipid rafts in a chicken B cell line deficient in Syk. Reintroducing a Syk construct into the Syk knock-out cells recovered effectively both tyrosine phosphorylation and translocation of HS1 into lipid rafts. In contrast, translocation of HS1 into rafts was normal in a Lyn knock-out B cell line, and an HS1 mutant at the tyrosine residue Tyr222 targeted by Lyn maintained the ability to partition into rafts upon BCR cross-linking. These data indicate that Syk plays an important role in the translocation of HS1 into lipid rafts and may be responsible for actin assembly recruitment to rafts and subsequent antigen presentations.     

pp59fyn mutant mice display differential signaling in thymocytes and peripheral T cells.

We have generated mutant mice that do not express pp59fyn, a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase related to pp60src, by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. fyn- mice did not display an overt phenotype. Because fyn is associated with the T cell receptor (TCR), thymocyte and T cell signaling was analyzed in the mutant background. Cross-linking of TCR-CD3 in thymocytes led to markedly reduced calcium fluxes and abrogated proliferation, whereas mature splenic T cells retained largely normal proliferation despite depressed calcium movements and IL-2 production. Similarly, proliferation induced by Thy-1 cross-linking was reduced in thymocytes but not in splenic T cells. fyn- thymocytes were impaired at a late stage of maturation and showed limited clonal deletion to the Mls-1a self-super-antigen but not to staphylococcal enterotoxin A. These results implicate fyn as a critical component in TCR signaling in thymocytes and, potentially, in the process that determines T cell repertoire in the adult mouse.     

Phospholipase C gamma 2 is essential for specific functions of Fc epsilon R and Fc gamma R

Phospholipase Cgamma2 (PLCgamma2) plays a critical role in the functions of the B cell receptor in B cells and of the FcRgamma chain-containing collagen receptor in platelets. Here we report that PLCgamma2 is also expressed in mast cells and monocytes/macrophages and is activated by cross-linking of Fc(epsilon)R and Fc(gamma)R. Although PLCgamma2-deficient mice have normal development and numbers of mast cells and monocytes/macrophages, we demonstrate that PLCgamma2 is essential for specific functions of Fc(epsilon)R and Fc(gamma)R. While PLCgamma2-deficient mast cells have normal mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and cytokine production at mRNA levels, the mutant cells have impaired Fc(epsilon)R-mediated Ca(2+) flux and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production, degranulation, and cytokine secretion. As a physiological consequence of the effect of PLCgamma2 deficiency, the mutant mice are resistant to IgE-mediated cutaneous inflammatory skin reaction. Macrophages from PLCgamma2-deficient mice have no detectable Fc(gamma)R-mediated Ca(2+) flux; however, the mutant cells have normal Fc(gamma)R-mediated phagocytosis. Moreover, PLCgamma2 plays a nonredundant role in Fc(gamma)R-mediated inflammatory skin reaction.     

PRAM-1 is required for optimal integrin-dependent neutrophil function

PML-retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) regulated adaptor molecule 1 (PRAM-1) is an intracellular adaptor molecule that is upregulated during the induced granulocytic differentiation of promyelocytic leukemic cells and during normal human myelopoiesis. This report describes the generation of PRAM-1-deficient mice and an analysis of the function of this adaptor in neutrophil differentiation and mature neutrophil function. We demonstrate here that neutrophil differentiation is not impaired in PRAM-1-deficient mice and that PRAM-1-deficient neutrophils function normally following engagement of Fcgamma receptors. In contrast, mature PRAM-1-null neutrophils exhibit significant defects in adhesion-dependent reactive oxygen intermediate production and degranulation. Surprisingly, other integrin-dependent responses, such as cell spreading and activation of several signaling pathways, are normal. Together, these findings demonstrate the uncoupling of key integrin-dependent responses in the absence of PRAM-1 and show this adaptor to be critical for select integrin functions in neutrophils.     

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 is critical for activation of CD28-deficient T cells

Presentation of Ag to T lymphocytes in the absence of the requisite costimulatory signals leads to an Ag-specific unresponsiveness termed anergy, whereas Ag presentation in conjunction with costimulation leads to clonal expansion. B7/CD28 signaling has been shown to provide this critical costimulatory signal and blockade of this pathway may inhibit in vitro and in vivo immune responses. Although T cells from CD28-deficient mice are lacking in a variety of responses, they nonetheless are capable of various primary and secondary responses without the induction of anergy expected in the absence of costimulation. This suggests that there may be alternative costimulatory pathways that can replace CD28 signaling under certain circumstances. In this paper, we show that ICAM-1becomes a dominant costimulatory molecule for CD28-deficient T cells. ICAM-1 costimulates anti-CD3-mediated T cell proliferation and IL-2 secretion in CD28-deficient murine T cells. Furthermore, splenocytes from ICAM-1-deficient mice could not activate CD28-deficient T cells and splenocytes lacking both ICAM and CD28 fail to proliferate in response to anti-CD3-induced T cell signals. This confirms that not only can ICAM-1 act as a CD28-independent costimulator, but it is the dominant, requisite costimulatory molecule for the activation of T cells in the absence of B7/CD28 costimulation.     

Subunit 1 of the prefoldin chaperone complex is required for lymphocyte development and function

Prefoldin is a hexameric chaperone that facilitates posttranslational folding of actins and other cytoskeletal proteins by the Tcp1-containing ring complex chaperonin, TriC. The present study characterized mice with a null mutation in Pfdn1, which encodes the first subunit of the Prefoldin complex. Pfdn1-deficient mice displayed phenotypes characteristic of defects in cytoskeletal function, including manifestations of ciliary dyskinesia, neuronal loss, and defects in B and T cell development and function. B and T cell maturation was markedly impaired at relatively early stages, namely at the transitions from pre-pro-B to pre-B cells in the bone marrow and from CD4-CD8- double-negative to CD4+CD8+ double-positive T cells in the thymus. In addition, mature B and T lymphocytes displayed cell activation defects upon Ag receptor cross-linking accompanied by impaired Ag receptor capping in B cells. These phenotypes illustrate the importance of cytoskeletal function in immune cell development and activation.     

Cutting edge: T cell migration regulated by CXCR4 chemokine receptor signaling to ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase

Chemokines regulate the homeostatic trafficking of lymphocytes and lymphocyte influx into sites of injury and inflammation. The signaling pathways by which chemokine receptors regulate lymphocyte migration remain incompletely characterized. We demonstrate that Jurkat T cells lacking the ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase exhibit reduced migration in response to the CXCR4 ligand CXCL12 when compared with wild-type Jurkat T cells. Expression of wild-type, but not kinase-inactive, ZAP-70 resulted in enhanced migration of ZAP-70-deficient Jurkat T cells. The tyrosine residue at position 292 in the interdomain B region of ZAP-70 exerts a negative regulatory effect on ZAP-70-dependent migration. Stimulation of Jurkat T cells with CXCL12 also resulted in ZAP-70-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the Src homology 2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa (SLP-76) adapter protein. Although CXCL12-dependent migration of SLP-76-deficient Jurkat T cells was impaired, re-expression of SLP-76 did not enhance migration. These results suggest a novel function for ZAP-70, but not SLP-76, in CXCR4 chemokine receptor signaling in human T cells.     

New insights into the transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45

CD45 is expressed on all nucleated haematopoietic cells and was originally identified as the first and prototypic transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase. In CD45 mutant cell lines, CD45-deficient mice and CD45-deficient human SCID patients, CD45 is required for signal transduction through antigen receptors. CD45 can operate as a positive as well as a negative regulator of Src-family kinases. Moreover, CD45 was identified as the elusive JAK tyrosine phosphatase that negatively regulates cytokine receptor activation involved in the differentiation, proliferation and antiviral immunity of haematopoietic cells. Modulation of CD45 splice variants provides a unique opportunity to design drugs that turn off or turn on antigen and cytokine receptor signaling in cancer, transplantation or autoimmunity     

The glycophosphatidylinositol-anchored Thy-1 molecule interacts with the p60fyn protein tyrosine kinase in T cells.

Stimulation of murine T cells by engagement of the multi-component T cell antigen receptor or by cross-linking the Thy-1 molecule leads to a similar response characterized by lymphocyte activation and lymphokine production. The early biochemical events induced by engaging these molecules also are similar and begin with activation of a tyrosine kinase pathway and tyrosine phosphorylation of a comparable set of substrates. Previous work demonstrates that the protein tyrosine kinase p60fyn is associated with the antigen receptor and therefore it may participate in the tyrosine phosphorylations that are observed with antigen receptor signaling. In this study we demonstrate that the Thy-1 molecule is also associated with p60fyn in a murine T cell hybridoma and in murine thymocytes. The interaction is independent of antigen receptor expression. Thy-1 is a member of the class of molecules anchored to the plasma membrane by a glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) group. The association of Thy-1 with p60fyn is dependent on the GPI linkage, since cleavage of the GPI anchor disrupts the interaction. The association of Thy-1 and p60fyn suggests a means by which Thy-1 cross-linking leads to tyrosine phosphorylation and T cell activation.     

CD5 negatively regulates the T-cell antigen receptor signal transduction pathway: involvement of SH2-containing phosphotyrosine phosphatase SHP-1

The negative regulation of T- or B-cell antigen receptor signaling by CD5 was proposed based on studies of thymocytes and peritoneal B-1a cells from CD5-deficient mice. Here, we show that CD5 is constitutively associated with phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity in Jurkat T cells. CD5 was found associated with the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain containing hematopoietic phosphotyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in both Jurkat cells and normal phytohemagglutinin-expanded T lymphoblasts. This interaction was increased upon T-cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 cell stimulation. CD5 co-cross-linking with the TCR-CD3 complex down-regulated the TCR-CD3-increased Ca2+ mobilization in Jurkat cells. In addition, stimulation of Jurkat cells or normal phytohemagglutinin-expanded T lymphoblasts through TCR-CD3 induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of several protein substrates, which was substantially diminished after CD5 cross-linking. The CD5-regulated substrates included CD3zeta, ZAP-70, Syk, and phospholipase Cgammal but not the Src family tyrosine kinase p56(lck). By mutation of all four CD5 intracellular tyrosine residues to phenylalanine, we found the membrane-proximal tyrosine at position 378, which is located in an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory (ITIM)-like motif, crucial for SHP-1 association. The F378 point mutation ablated both SHP-1 binding and the down-regulating activity of CD5 during TCR-CD3 stimulation. These results suggest a critical role of the CD5 ITIM-like motif, which by binding to SHP-1 mediates the down-regulatory activity of this receptor.     

The SH2 domain containing tyrosine phosphatase-1 down-regulates activation of Lyn and Lyn-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the CD19 receptor in B cells

SHP-1 is a cytosolic tyrosine phosphatase implicated in down-regulation of B cell antigen receptor signaling. SHP-1 effects on the antigen receptor reflect its capacity to dephosphorylate this receptor as well as several inhibitory comodulators. In view of our observation that antigen receptor-induced CD19 tyrosine phosphorylation is constitutively increased in B cells from SHP-l-deficient motheaten mice, we investigated the possibility that CD19, a positive modulator of antigen receptor signaling, represents another substrate for SHP-1. However, analysis of CD19 coimmunoprecipitable tyrosine phosphatase activity in CD19 immunoprecipitates from SHP-1-deficient and wild-type B cells revealed that SHP-1 accounts for only a minor portion of CD19-associated tyrosine phosphatase activity. As CD19 tyrosine phosphorylation is modulated by the Lyn protein-tyrosine kinase, Lyn activity was evaluated in wild-type and motheaten B cells. The results revealed both Lyn as well as CD19-associated Lyn kinase activity to be constitutively and inducibly increased in SHP-1-deficient compared with wild-type B cells. The data also demonstrated SHP-1 to be associated with Lyn in stimulated but not in resting B cells and indicated this interaction to be mediated via Lyn binding to the SHP-1 N-terminal SH2 domain. These findings, together with cyanogen bromide cleavage data revealing that SHP-1 dephosphorylates the Lyn autophosphorylation site, identify Lyn deactivation/dephosphorylation as a likely mechanism whereby SHP-1 exerts its influence on CD19 tyrosine phosphorylation and, by extension, its inhibitory effect on B cell antigen receptor signaling.     

Reelin activates SRC family tyrosine kinases in neurons

BACKGROUND: Reelin is a large signaling molecule that regulates the positioning of neurons in the mammalian brain. Transmission of the Reelin signal to migrating embryonic neurons requires binding to the very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) and the apolipoprotein E receptor-2 (apoER2). This induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the adaptor protein Disabled-1 (Dab1), which interacts with a shared sequence motif in the cytoplasmic tails of both receptors. However, the kinases that mediate Dab1 tyrosine phosphorylation and the intracellular pathways that are triggered by this event remain unknown. RESULTS: We show that Reelin activates members of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases (SFKs) and that this activation is dependent on the Reelin receptors apoER2 and VLDLR and the adaptor protein Dab1. Dab1 is tyrosine phosphorylated by SFKs, and the kinases themselves can be further activated by phosphorylated Dab1. Increased Dab1 protein expression in fyn-deficient mice implies a response to impaired Reelin signaling that is also observed in mice lacking Reelin or its receptors. However, fyn deficiency alone does not compound the neuronal positioning defect of vldlr- or apoer2-deficient mice, and this finding suggests functional compensation by other SFKs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Dab1 is a physiological substrate as well as an activator of SFKs in neurons. Based on genetic evidence gained from multiple strains of mutant mice with defects in Reelin signaling, we conclude that activation of SFKs is a normal part of the cellular Reelin response.     

CD45-deficient mice accumulate Pro-B cells both in vivo and in vitro

Efficient generation of mature B lineage cells requires the participation of the BCR, the pre-BCR, accessory coreceptors, and growth factor receptors. Together these receptors integrate cell intrinsic signals with regulatory pathways initiated by surrounding cells and structures. CD45 is a receptor tyrosine phosphatase expressed at high levels on all hemopoietic cells, and has been shown to modulate many signaling cascades in both positive and negative manners. In the absence of B220, the B lineage isoform of CD45, differentiation to the mature B cell stage is incomplete. We demonstrate that CD45-deficient mice also accumulate pro-B cells in the bone marrow. In vitro differentiation is altered in that B lineage populations exhibit prolonged survival in the presence of high concentrations of IL-7. Cell lines derived from CD45-deficient animals experience prolonged JAK/STAT activation in response to IL-7 stimulation, and constitutively elevated levels of phosphorylated src kinases. Aberrant IL-7Ralpha expression is observed in vivo, and may be responsible for the skewed development present in CD45(-/-) animals. Demonstrating that CD45-deficient pro-B cells are affected by the absence of B220 highlights a previously unrecognized parallel in B and T lineage precursors, and emphasizes that the presence of normal numbers of peripheral B cells does not assure that the bone marrow compartment is intact.     

TRAF6 specifically contributes to FcepsilonRI-mediated cytokine production but not mast cell degranulation

TRAF6 (tumor necrosis factor-associated factor 6) is an essential adaptor downstream from the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor and Toll-like receptor superfamily members. This molecule is critical for dendritic cell maturation and T cell homeostasis. Here we show that TRAF6 is important in high affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI-mediated mast cell activation. In contrast to dendritic cells and T cells, TRAF6-deficient mast cells matured normally and showed normal IgE-dependent degranulation. Importantly, TRAF6-deficient mast cells showed impaired production of cytokine interleukin-6, CCL-9, interleukin-13, and TNF following FcepsilonRI aggregation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed decreased NF-kappaB p65 binding to CCL-9 and TNF promoters in TRAF6-deficient mast cells. Antigen and IgE-induced IkappaB phosphorylation and NF-kappaB p65 translocation to the nucleus were diminished in TRAF6-deficient mast cells. NF-kappaB luciferase activity in response to antigen and IgE stimulation was severely impaired in TRAF6-deficient mast cells. In addition, antigen and IgE-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 and JNK, but not ERK1/2, was significantly reduced in TRAF6-deficient mast cells. These results identified TRAF6 as an important signal transducer in FcepsilonRI-mediated signaling in mast cells. Our findings implicate TRAF6 as a new adaptor/regulator molecule for allergen-mediated inflammation in allergy.     

Essential role of NF-kappa B-inducing kinase in T cell activation through the TCR/CD3 pathway

NF-kappa B-inducing kinase (NIK) is involved in lymphoid organogenesis in mice through lymphotoxin-beta receptor signaling. To clarify the roles of NIK in T cell activation through TCR/CD3 and costimulation pathways, we have studied the function of T cells from aly mice, a strain with mutant NIK. NIK mutant T cells showed impaired proliferation and IL-2 production in response to anti-CD3 stimulation, and these effects were caused by impaired NF-kappa B activity in both mature and immature T cells; the impaired NF-kappa B activity in mature T cells was also associated with the failure of maintenance of activated NF-kappa B. In contrast, responses to costimulatory signals were largely retained in aly mice, suggesting that NIK is not uniquely coupled to the costimulatory pathways. When NIK mutant T cells were stimulated in the presence of a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, proliferative responses were abrogated more severely than in control mice, suggesting that both NIK and PKC control T cell activation in a cooperative manner. We also demonstrated that NIK and PKC are involved in distinct NF-kappa B activation pathways downstream of TCR/CD3. These results suggest critical roles for NIK in setting the threshold for T cell activation, and partly account for the immunodeficiency in aly mice.