Components of the protein kinase C pathway induce Ia expression after injection into macrophages.

Macrophages are activated by a variety of microbial and cytokine stimuli. One feature of activation is the induction of class II Ag (Ia) on the cell surface. To understand the intracellular events that occur during activation, we investigated various agents with intracellular activities, and examined their effects on the induction of Ia. We first noted that several agents that activate protein kinase C (PKC) induced Ia, and that several inhibitors of PKC inhibited Ia induction by IFN-gamma. To directly test whether PKC induced Ia, we microinjected normal peritoneal macrophages with this enzyme and other intracellular mediators, then examined Ia expression. We observed that injection of PKC itself, or of other intracellular proteins thought to participate in the PKC pathway (Ras or phospholipase C gamma) strongly induced Ia expression. The Ia-inducing activity of transforming Ras protein was blocked by kinase inhibitor treatment of cells, suggesting that Ras signal transduction requires kinase activity. On the other hand, components of the protein kinase A pathway (phospholipase A2 and protein kinase A itself) did not induce Ia. Thus, the PKC pathway can control expression of macrophage surface Ia, possibly by regulating the genes of the MHC, and may play many other roles in the activation of macrophages.     

Fc gamma receptor-mediated suppression of gamma-interferon-induced Ia antigen expression on a murine macrophage-like cell line (P338D1)

A variant (HS-1) of a murine macrophage cell line (P388D1) was obtained by cell cluster technique based on the Ia antigen expression induced by lymphokines. Receptors for both IgG2a and IgG2b but no detectable I-Ad are expressed on the surface of the majority of HS-1 cells. Exposure of HS-1 cell to concanavalin A supernatant or recombinant IFN-gamma resulted in the induction of I-Ad antigens on greater than 90% of the cells within 48 hr. The effects of lymphokines were transient and dependent on the synthesis of messenger RNA because the removal of lymphokines or the presence of actinomycin D both blocked Ia expression. The prior or simultaneous binding of monoclonal IgG2a or IgG2b antibodies complexed with sheep erythrocytes to respective cell surface Fc gamma R suppressed the Ia antigen inducing activity of lymphokines. Neither antibody nor antigen alone could suppress the effect of lymphokines. Inhibitors of phospholipase A2 or cyclooxygenase, which have been shown previously to suppress Fc gamma 2bR, but not Fc gamma 2aR, triggered activation of the adenylate cyclase system and reversed Fc gamma 2bR- but not Fc gamma 2aR-mediated suppression of IFN-gamma-induced Ia antigen expression.     

Involvement of protein kinase C in competence induction of macrophages to generate T suppressor cells.

We have previously described an Ia-expressing macrophage hybridoma clone, termed clone 59, which attains the ability to induce Ts cells after activation with murine rIFN-gamma. In this report, we show that a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, PMA (10 ng/ml) can replace IFN-gamma in inducing this form of macrophage competence. IFN-gamma-induced cellular competence was abrogated specifically by a PKC inhibitor but not by inhibitors that have specificity for cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases. Furthermore, PGE2 known to induce protein kinase A in murine macrophages also failed to induce competence. In contrast, the ability to induce Th responses was neither dependent on IFN-gamma nor inhibited by prior treatment with protein kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, PKC depletion of macrophages by treatment with high doses (100 ng/ml) of PMA abrogated their ability to induce Ts cells. In addition, PKC-depleted macrophages failed to regain the ability to stimulate Ts cells after further treatment with IFN-gamma. The ability of IFN-gamma to modulate macrophage-mediated induction of Ts cells does not clearly correlate with an increased Ia expression as inducible expression of Ia was not consistently abrogated by PKC inhibitor treatment. In addition, PKC inhibitors failed to prevent the production of the cytokines IL-1 and IL-6. However, incubation of IFN-gamma or PMA-treated macrophages with antibodies recognizing the putative IJ ligand blocked the ability to induce Ts cells, suggesting the expression of these determinants on accessory cells is responsible for Ts induction.     

Transduction of the IFN-gamma signal for HLA-DR expression in the promonocytic line THP-1 involves a late-acting PKC activity

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is the most potent known lymphokine for activating macrophages and has been shown to induce expression of HLA-DR in THP-1 cells, a monocytic tumor cell line which expresses many of the properties of monocytes, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Experiments were designed to examine, by FACS analysis and by measurement of messenger RNA levels, the molecular mechanism regulating the expression of HLA-DR molecules. The expression of HLA-DR molecules induced by IFN-gamma was blocked by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors sphingosine, staurosporine, and H7. H7 when added up to 20 hr after the initial stimulation with IFN-gamma prevented the further expression of HLA-DR. The general kinase inhibitors H8, H9, and HA1004, all less potent PKC inhibitors than H7, did not block the IFN-gamma-induced expression of HLA-DR at the concentrations employed. W7, a calmodulin antagonist, but not a PKC inhibitor, was also unable to prevent the IFN-gamma-induced expression of HLA-DR. Treatment of THP-1 with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a direct activator of PKC, alone or with Ca2+ ionophore A23187, was unable to induce HLA-DR expression. However, pretreatment with PMA for 24 hr prior to IFN-gamma stimulation decreased the IFN-gamma-induced expression of HLA-DR without decreasing IFN-gamma receptor levels. These results suggest that PKC plays a significant role in the IFN-gamma-induced signal transduction pathway leading to the expression of HLA-DR in cells of the mononuclear phagocytic lineage, and that PKC activity is required throughout the course of events leading to the actual expression of HLA-DR.     

Regulation of Fc gamma receptor subtype expression on a human eosinophilic leukemia cell line EoL-3: participation of cAMP and protein kinase C in the effects of interferon-gamma and phorbol ester.

We investigated the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) on Fc gamma R subtype expression on a human eosinophilic leukemia cell line, EoL-3. Unstimulated EoL-3 cells expressed Fc gamma RII as determined by monoclonal antibody (mAb) IV-3, whereas there was little or no Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RIII expression as determined by mAbs 32.2 and 3G8, respectively. IFN-gamma induced Fc gamma RI expression, and Bt2 cAMP, which did not induce Fc gamma RI expression by itself, showed an additive effect on IFN-gamma-induced Fc gamma RI expression. Fc gamma RII expression was augmented by IFN-gamma, PMA, and Bt2 cAMP. Bt2 cAMP also showed an additive effect on IFN-gamma-augmented Fc gamma RII expression. Fc gamma RIII expression could be induced only by IFN-gamma plus Bt2 cAMP. H-7, a protein kinase C (PK-C) inhibitor, suppressed the enhancement of Fc gamma R subtype expression induced by these reagents. These results show that Fc gamma R subtype expression on EoL-3 cells is regulated differently in each subtype and that cAMP and PK-C play important roles in the regulation.     

Interferon-gamma-induced astrocyte class II major histocompatibility complex gene expression is associated with both protein kinase C activation and Na+ entry

Astrocytes can be induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to express class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens. This study was undertaken to elucidate the intracellular signaling pathways involved in IFN-gamma induction of class II MHC. We examined the effects of Na+/H+ antiporter and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors on class II expression and Na+ influx in astrocytes. We found that amiloride and ethyl isopropylamiloride, inhibitors of Na+/H+ exchange, blocked IFN-gamma-induced class II gene expression. IFN-gamma stimulated Na+ influx, and this increased influx was inhibited by amiloride. Treatment of astrocytes with the PKC inhibitor H7 also blocked the increase in Na+ uptake induced by IFN-gamma, indicating that IFN-gamma-induced PKC activation is required for subsequent Na+ influx. IFN-gamma treatment produced an increase of total PKC activity, which was associated with a rapid translocation of PKC activity from cytosolic to particulate fraction. H7 and another PKC inhibitor, staurosporine, inhibited IFN-gamma-induced class II gene expression. However, 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate, a potent PKC activator, did not affect class II expression. Taken together, our data indicate that both IFN-gamma-induced PKC activation and Na+ influx are required for class II MHC expression in astrocytes but that activation of PKC alone is not sufficient for ultimate expression of this gene.     

Opposing effects of glucocorticoids on interferon-gamma-induced murine macrophage Fc receptor and Ia antigen expression

Two macrophage markers associated with differentiation are the Fc receptor (FcR) and the Ia antigen. Expression of these markers is increased with IFN-gamma treatment, although some evidence suggests that the induction pathway for Fc receptor and Ia antigen expression may be dissociable. In this study, the effect of glucocorticoids on basal and IFN-induced levels of Fc-mediated phagocytosis and Ia antigen expression was investigated. Macrophages incubated for 2 days with glucocorticoids alone showed no change in basal levels of Fc-mediated phagocytosis. However, incubation with glucocorticoids plus IFN-gamma resulted in increased Fc-mediated phagocytosis and binding to a much greater extent than IFN-gamma treatment alone. This enhancement was specific for IFN-gamma, because the IFN-beta-induced increase in Fc-mediated phagocytosis and binding was not affected by glucocorticoids. In contrast to the expression of Fc receptor capacity, both basal and IFN-gamma-induced levels of Ia antigen expression were inhibited by glucocorticoids. The glucocorticoid effect on these two markers was not observed with other steroid hormones, nor was it altered by inhibitors of the arachidonic acid pathway. The findings of this study provide additional evidence that induction of Fc receptor and Ia antigen by IFN-gamma occurs by different mechanisms.     

Interferon gamma induces in human neutrophils and macrophages expression of the mRNA for the high affinity receptor for monomeric IgG (Fc gamma R-I or CD64)

Immune interferon (IFN-gamma) induces in human neutrophils accumulation of the mRNA for the high affinity receptor for monomeric IgG (Fc gamma R-I, CD64) with a mechanism that is independent from de novo protein synthesis and from activation of the Na+/H+ antiporter. Monocyte-derived macrophages can also be induced to express high levels of Fc gamma R-I mRNA by IFN-gamma, without requirement of protein synthesis. Unlike what is observed in neutrophils, induction by IFN-gamma of macrophage Fc gamma R-I mRNA was significantly depressed by the Na+/H+ antiporter inhibitor amiloride. These results indicate that phagocytes' Fc gamma R-I mRNA induction by IFN-gamma is regulated by different mechanisms depending on the target cells.     

Attenuation of MHC class II expression in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin involves class II transactivator and depends on the Nramp1 gene.

The natural resistance associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1) gene determines the ability of murine macrophages to control infection with a group of intracellular pathogens, including Salmonella typhimurium, Leishmania donovani, and Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The expression of the resistant allele of the Nramp1 gene in murine macrophages is associated with a more efficient expression of several macrophage activation-associated genes, including class II MHC loci. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in IFN-gamma-induced MHC class II expression in three types of macrophages: those expressing a wild-type allele of the Nramp1 gene (B10R and 129/Mphi), those carrying a susceptible form of the Nramp1 gene (B10S), and those derived from 129-Nramp1-knockout mice (129/Nramp1-KO). Previously, we published results showing that Ia protein expression is significantly higher in the IFN-gamma-induced B10R macrophages, compared with its susceptible counterpart. In this paper, we also show that the higher expression of Ia protein in B10R cells is associated with higher I-Abeta mRNA expression, which correlates with a higher level of IFN-gamma-induced phosphorylation of the STAT1-alpha protein and subsequently with elevated expression of class II transactivator (CIITA) mRNA, compared with B10S. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the infection of macrophages with M. bovis BCG results in a down-regulation of CIITA mRNA expression and, consequently, in the inhibition of Ia induction. Therefore, our data explain, at least in part, the molecular mechanism involved in the inhibition of I-Abeta gene expression in M. bovis BCG-infected macrophages activated with IFN-gamma.     

Membrane vesicles shed by murine melanoma cells selectively inhibit the expression of Ia antigen by macrophages

We previously demonstrated that membrane vesicles shed by the F10 variant of the murine B16 melanoma cell line inhibited the induction by interferon-gamma (IFN) of murine macrophage immune response region-associated (Ia) antigen expression. In this paper we present evidence that the inhibition of macrophage Ia antigen expression is a selective effect of vesicles and characterize its temporal requirements. Membrane vesicles shed from F10 cells did not affect the expression of macrophage H-2K or H-2D antigens under conditions shown to profoundly inhibit Ia antigen expression. Similarly, the induction of plasminogen activator and interleukin 1 from macrophages was not inhibited by the vesicles. The vesicles did not measurably decrease total cellular RNA or protein synthesis. Macrophages were sensitive to the inhibitory effects of the vesicles during the induction and maintenance phases of Ia expression. Pretreatment of macrophages with vesicles before culture with IFN did not reduce the induction of Ia. The rate of decline of Ia expression after removal of IFN was unaffected by the presence of vesicles. Removal of vesicles from cultures of IFN-treated macrophages resulted in only a partial recovery of Ia expression, suggesting that the inhibition of Ia expression may be a slowly reversible process. The selective and partially reversible inhibition of Ia expression by vesicles shed from the plasma membrane of tumor cells is a possible mechanism whereby tumor-bearing hosts may become immunocompromised.     

Regulation of macrophage activation by IL-3. I. IL-3 functions as a macrophage-activating factor with unique properties, inducing Ia and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 but not cytotoxicity

Here we report that IL-3 (also referred to as multi-CSF because of its colony-stimulating activity on a variety of hemopoietic cell lineages) can function as a macrophage-activating factor (MAF). IL-3 was able to regulate the expression of class II MHC Ag and the cellular interaction molecule lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 on the surface of murine peritoneal exudate cells. The kinetics of IL-3-induced Ia expression appeared to be distinct from that induced by either IFN-gamma, IL-4, or granulocyte-macrophage-CSF. IL-3 was also distinguished from these factors by the finding that it did not induce macrophage tumoricidal activity. In addition to its inherent MAF activities, IL-3 also showed a marked synergy with low doses of LPS (0.05 to 0.5 ng/ml) as well as IFN-gamma in Ia induction. When lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 expression was evaluated, the effects of these stimuli appeared to be only additive. Although LPS has been shown to inhibit IFN-gamma-induced Ia expression, in our experiments this property of LPS is manifest only when present at doses greater than or equal to 50 ng/ml. At lower concentrations, LPS potentiated both IL-3- and IFN-gamma-induced class II MHC Ag expression. Data presented here also suggest that the synergistic interactions between low doses of LPS and IL-3 are not mediated by known LPS-inducible cytokines of macrophage origin, because rIL-1, TNF-alpha, or IL-6 did not enhance the response to IL-3. Because IL-3 can also participate in the regulation of IL-1 expression, it appears that IL-3 can function as a MAF which selectively regulates the accessory cell characteristics required for Ag presentation, as opposed to the cytolytic functions of the macrophage.     

Fc receptors on cultured myeloma and hybridoma cells

The specificity of the Fc gamma receptors on the X63.Ag8.653 nonproducing myeloma cell line has been examined for binding to IgG1-, IgG2a-, and IgG2b-containing antigen-antibody complexes. Complexes containing each of these subclasses bind, and the binding of each is inhibited by the others. Trypsin treatment did not inhibit the binding of any of these subclasses. Furthermore, the monoclonal anti-Fc receptor antibody 2.4G2 inhibits the binding of all three subclasses. These results, together with those of other investigators, suggest that there is a single FcR for IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b on mouse B cells which differs in its specificity from the macrophage Fc gamma R. This is confirmed by the fact that a mutant IgG2b myeloma protein which binds to the macrophage Fc gamma 1/gamma 2b receptor does not bind to the Fc gamma R on X63.Ag8.653.     

Role of protein kinase C in induction of gene expression and inhibition of cell proliferation by interferon alpha.

Recent studies have suggested that protein kinase C (PKC) may be involved in the mechanism of signal transduction by which members of the interferon (IFN) family regulate gene expression and cell phenotype. We have investigated the role of PKC in the control of cell growth and gene expression by IFN alpha in Daudi cells. Treatment of these cells with two analogues of staurosporine, which are potent inhibitors of PKC, completely blocked the induction by IFN alpha of the mRNA for 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase and the 6-16 gene. These compounds also inhibited cell proliferation and thymidine incorporation in this system. In contrast, the protein kinase inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7) did not significantly inhibit the induction of these genes by IFN alpha and had no effect on Daudi cell growth or thymidine incorporation in the presence or absence of IFN alpha. No effect of IFN alpha on total PKC activity could be observed, and there were no significant changes in the overall levels of individual PKC isoforms or their mRNA following IFN alpha treatment. In contrast, treatment of Daudi cells with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, which also inhibits cell proliferation, strongly down-regulated PKC. These data suggest that the activity of a PKC species, or a closely related enzyme, may be required both for continued cell proliferation and the response to IFN alpha in Daudi cells, but that IFN-induced growth inhibition does not involve overall down-regulation or change in activity of PKC.     

Functional and phenotypic changes associated with the in vitro development of human monocytes into activated macrophages

Freshly isolated human peripheral blood monocytes had minimal cytotoxic effect in vitro on the schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni. However, stimulation of the cells with either interferon gamma (IFN) or specific anti-parasite antiserum caused an increase in cytotoxicity. Additionally, the normal development of monocytes into macrophages over 7 days was associated with a sharp increase in cytotoxicity. The non-cytotoxic monocytes were compared with activated macrophages to assess whether cytotoxicity was associated with changes in immunophenotype. As monocytes developed into macrophages there were marked increases in transferrin receptors (HB21), macrophage cellular integrin (3.9), and Fc receptors (KB61). A further three markers showed increased expression in 7-day-old macrophages stimulated by IFN, namely a high affinity Fc gamma receptor (10.1), MHC Class II (1B5) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF).     

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation induced via the IgG receptors Fc gamma Ri and Fc gamma RII in the human monocytic cell line THP-1.

We have investigated the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in transmembrane signaling via the IgG receptors Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII in the human monocytic cell line THP-1. Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII were selectively engaged using the anti-Fc gamma RI mAb 197 (IgG2a) and the anti-Fc gamma RII mAb IV.3 (IgG2b). Addition to cells of mAb 197, but not addition of IgG2a mAb of irrelevant specificity, resulted in the rapid induction of cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphorylation as assessed by antiphosphotyrosine immunoblotting. A similar pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation was induced by mAb IV.3, but not by control IgG2b mAb. The induction of tyrosine phosphorylation by anti-Fc gamma R mAb was not dependent on antibody Fc region-FcR interactions, because tyrosine phosphorylation was also induced by cross-linked anti-Fc gamma RI F(ab')2 fragments and by cross-linked anti-Fc gamma RII Fab fragments. To investigate the relationship of Fc gamma R-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of phospholipase C, which is known to follow Fc gamma R engagement, we assessed the effect of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A on Fc gamma R-induced Ca2+ flux. Herbimycin A strongly inhibited cellular Ca2+ flux induced by mAb 197, but did not inhibit Ca2+ flux induced by aluminum fluoride, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation may be important in regulating Fc gamma R-mediated activation of phospholipase C. Consistent with this, mAb 197 induced rapid phosphorylation of the gamma-1 isoform of phospholipase C. Finally, herbimycin A strongly inhibited the induction of TNF-alpha mRNA accumulation by Fc gamma R cross-linking. These results suggest that protein tyrosine phosphorylation may play an important role in the activation of phospholipase C and in the induction of monokine gene expression that follows engagement of Fc gamma R in human monocytes.     

Modulation of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte IgG Fc receptors and Fc receptor-mediated functions by IFN-gamma and glucocorticoids

Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) normally express two distinct types of IgG Fc gamma R, the 40-kDa Fc gamma R referred to as Fc gamma RII and the low affinity 50- to 70-kDa Fc gamma R designated Fc gamma RIII. A third type of Fc gamma R, the 72-kDa high affinity receptor known as Fc gamma RI, is also detectable on PMN that have been activated by IFN-gamma. Using mAb that discriminate among the three known types of Fc gamma R, we examined the effects of IFN-gamma and glucocorticoids on human PMN Fc gamma R expression. We also studied effects of IFN-gamma and the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) on antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) of chicken erythrocytes and phagocytosis of IgG-coated ox RBC by human PMN. In 20 donors studied, we found that treatment of PMN with 400 U/ml IFN-gamma induced a 9- to 20-fold increase in the number of Fc gamma RI sites per cell, and DEX inhibited this induction of Fc gamma RI by 39 to 73%. Similarly, DEX significantly reduced the IFN-gamma stimulation of ADCC and phagocytosis. IFN-gamma had no effect on expression of Fc gamma RII or Fc gamma RIII. Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII expression was unaltered by 24 h of treatment with DEX alone, but Fc gamma RIII expression was sometimes increased by about 20% on PMN cultured with DEX. Nevertheless, we found a small but significant inhibition of ADCC and phagocytosis by 200 nM DEX. Our results indicate that Fc gamma RI plays a major but not exclusive role in the regulation of ADCC and phagocytosis by IFN-gamma and DEX.     

Recombinant human immune interferon induces increased IgE receptor expression on the human monocyte cell line U-937

Human recombinant gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), which is free from other lymphokines, significantly increased expression of receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon R) on the human monocyte cell line U-937. Fc epsilon R were measured by assaying specific (saturable) binding of 125I-labeled or fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled human IgE (Sha) to U-937 cells. Cell-bound IgE was analyzed by gamma counting and by flow cytometry. IFN-gamma-induced enhancement in IgE binding was a consequence of an increase in the number and density of Fc epsilon R, as cell size did not change significantly after treatment. Scatchard analysis of 125I-IgE binding curves revealed the presence of a homogeneous population of binding sites for IgE in control and in IFN-gamma-treated cells. IFN-gamma treatment did not change the value of the dissociation constant of Fc epsilon R for 125I-IgE. IFN-alpha and IFN-beta had only slight effects on the expression of Fc epsilon R. Dexamethasone (200 nM) diminished the IFN-gamma-induced enhancement in the number of Fc epsilon R by about 50%, the same extent as in control cells. IFN-gamma treatment did not cause a significant alteration in cell number, cell cycle kinetics, or macromolecular synthesis, and enhanced expression of Fc epsilon R was probably not mediated through the cyclic AMP system.     

Signal transduction mechanisms through Fc gamma receptors on the mouse macrophage surface.

Mouse macrophages and macrophage cell lines such as P388D1 or J774 carry at least two distinct Fc gamma receptors (Fc gamma R): one specific for the Fc portion of IgG2a (Fc gamma aR, also classified as Fc gamma RI) and another for IgG2b (Fc gamma 2bR, also classified as Fc gamma RII beta). These Fc gamma Rs should transmit, upon binding of an appropriate ligand, a specific signal that leads to the regulation of macrophage functions, as the interaction of immune complex with cell surface receptor has been shown to lead to suppression of the humoral immune response or B cell differentiation, to the destruction of target cells by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, to activation of arachidonic acid metabolic cascade, to the phagocytosis of opsonized particles, or to the generation of superoxide anion. In this review, we first describe evidence that Fc gamma 2aR and Fc gamma 2bR are associated with casein kinase II and phospholipase A2 activity, respectively. We will then discuss a potential role for these enzymatic activities in signal transduction pathways that leads to the activation of the arachidonic acid metabolic cascade and adenylate cyclase, to the regulation of phagocytosis, and to the suppression of interferon-gamma action to induce Ia antigens.     

B cell antigen receptor-mediated activation of cyclin-dependent retinoblastoma protein kinases and inhibition by co-cross-linking with Fc gamma receptors.

Cross-linking the B cell Ag receptor (BCR) to surface Fc receptors for IgG (Fc gamma R) inhibits G1-to-S progression; the mechanism by which this occurs is not completely known. We investigated the regulation of three key cell cycle regulatory components by BCR-Fc gamma R co-cross-linking: G1-cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), and the retinoblastoma gene product (Rb). Rb functions to suppress G1-to-S progression in mammalian cells. Rb undergoes cell-cycle-dependent phosphorylation, leading to its inactivation and thereby promoting S phase entry. We demonstrate in this paper for the first time that BCR-induced Rb phosphorylation is abrogated by co-cross-linking with Fc gamma R. The activation of Cdk4/6- and Cdk2-dependent Rb protein kinases is concomitantly blocked. Fc gamma R-mediated inhibition of Cdk2 activity results in part from an apparent failure to express Cdk2 protein. By contrast, inhibition of Cdk4/6 activities is not due to suppression of Cdk4/6 or cyclins D2/D3 expression or inhibition of Cdk-activating kinase activity. Cdk4- and Cdk6-immune complexes recovered from B cells following BCR-Fc gamma R co-cross-linking are devoid of coprecipitated D-type cyclins, indicating that inhibition of their Rb protein kinase activities is due in part to the absence of bound D-type cyclin. Thus, BCR-derived activation signals that up-regulate D-type cyclin and Cdk4/6 protein expression remain intact; however, Fc gamma R-mediated signals block cyclin D-Cdk4/6 assembly or stabilization. These results suggest that assembly or stabilization of D-type cyclin holoenzyme complexes 1) is an important step in the activation of Cdk4/6 by BCR signals, and 2) suffice in providing a mechanism to account for inhibition of BCR-stimulated Rb protein phosphorylation by Fc gamma R.