Signal transduction through the T cell antigen receptor. Activation of phospholipase C through a G protein-independent coupling mechanism.

The T cell Ag (Ti-CD3) receptor complex has been proposed to regulate phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) through a cholera toxin (CTX)-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein. In this study, we have used CTX and staurosporine as pharmacologic probes to further define the linkage between the Ti-CD3 receptor and PLC activity in the human T cell line, Jurkat. CTX pretreatment inhibited Ti-CD3 receptor-dependent phosphoinositide hydrolysis and, concomitantly, protein tyrosine kinase activation in intact cells. Studies with electrically permeabilized Jurkat cells revealed that guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio) triphosphate stimulated an increase in PLC activity, that unlike the response to Ti-CD3 receptor ligation, was not affected by cellular pretreatment with CTX. In contrast, the phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, orthovanadate and molybdate anions, stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in permeabilized cells through a CTX-sensitive mechanism of PLC activation. Additional studies with a known PTK inhibitor, staurosporine, supported the results obtained with CTX. Staurosporine pretreatment inhibited the phosphoinositide hydrolysis induced by anti-CD3 antibodies or phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, but failed to alter the G protein-dependent PLC activation response to guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio) triphosphate. The results of this study indicate that PLC activity(s) in Jurkat cells are regulated by both G protein- and PTK-dependent coupling mechanisms. However, the differential inhibitory effects of CTX and staurosporine on these PLC activation pathways strongly suggest that a protein tyrosine kinase activation event, rather than a G protein, mediates the functional linkage between the Ti-CD3 receptor and PLC activity in Jurkat cells.     

Evidence for GTP-binding protein involvement in the tyrosine phosphorylation of the T cell receptor zeta chain.

The zeta subunit of the T cell receptor (TCR) is a prominent substrate for a TCR-activated tyrosine kinase. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the zeta subunit in response to antibody-mediated receptor cross-linking was synergized in permeabilized T cells by either of two non-hydrolyzable GTP analogues, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) or guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate Gpp(NH)p. ATP analogues did not significantly affect antibody-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Unlike the GTP analogues, the GDP analogue guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP beta S) did not enhance phosphorylation of zeta. The effect induced by the GTP analogues required TCR occupancy and was independent of protein kinase C. Taken together these observations implicate a GTP-binding protein in the modulation of TCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation.     

IL-7 receptor mediates tyrosine phosphorylation but does not activate the phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C-gamma 1 pathway.

IL-7 is a glycoprotein involved in the regulation of lymphocyte precursor growth. In addition, it has a comitogenic effect on mature T cells but not on mature B cells. The exact mechanism whereby IL-7R mediates these cell growth properties remains unknown. Because many growth factor receptor systems on various cell types transduce signals by activating a tyrosine kinase, we have studied here the effect of IL-7R ligation on protein tyrosine phosphorylation. We found that human rIL-7 consistently induced tyrosine phosphorylation of five major proteins, of 175, 155, 135, 110, and 85 kDa, and five minor proteins. The effect of human rIL-7 on tyrosine phosphorylation of these substrates was concentration and time dependent. One of the known substrates that is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues after binding of growth factors to their receptors is the phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. Several phospholipase C isozymes have been recently recognized; one isozyme, phospholipase C-gamma 1, was demonstrated to be phosphorylated rapidly after ligand binding to the platelet-derived growth factor receptor and the T cell Ag receptor. We show here that, in contrast to Ag receptor ligation, activation of IL-7R does not induce tyrosine phosphorylation on phospholipase C-gamma 1. Consistent with these results, human rIL-7 failed to increase phosphatidylinositol turnover and did not induce a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ in the thymocytes, mature T cells, or pre-pre-B cells. The results indicate that the IL-7R mediates the activation of the tyrosine phosphorylation pathway but does not induce the phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C pathway.     

Receptor-mediated activation of human B lymphocytes in a nonphosphotyrosine-dependent manner.

The B cell AgR regulates two signal transduction pathways: the tyrosine kinase and the phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) pathways. Stimulation of B cells with Ag or anti-Ig antibody results in a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple substrates. The AgR also mediates the activation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1) thus producing the second messengers, inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. Although the detailed relationship between these two signaling pathways remains unclear, it has recently become apparent that PLC-gamma 1 might be a target for the AgR-associated protein tyrosine kinase. To address the question of whether tyrosine kinase activity is essential for B cell activation, we studied early biochemical changes and later cellular events induced by ligation of the purinoceptor (P2R). Ligation of ATP to its receptor on B cells has been previously shown to elicit increases in cytosolic free Ca2+ and inositol phosphate production as well as induction of c-fos mRNA expression and increased expression of IL-2 and transferrin receptors. We show here that ATP in a wide range of concentrations did not increase protein tyrosine kinase activity. In contrast with the AgR, P2R did not mediate tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1, thus suggesting that it may use another phosphoinositide-specific PLC that does not require phosphorylation on tyrosine residues for its activation. The results were supported by experiments with a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin AG-126. Preincubation with this inhibitor blocked AgR but not P2R-mediated inositol phosphate production, cytosolic free Ca2+ changes, and IL-2 and transferrin receptor expression. The results indicate that the PtdIns pathway may be sufficient to induce activation of B cells and that the tyrosine phosphorylation pathway is not necessary for nonantigenic B cell activation.     

Evidence for two distinct phosphorylation pathways activated by high affinity immunoglobulin E receptors.

The high affinity receptor for immunoglobulin (Ig) E on mast cells, along with the antigen receptors on T and B cells and Fc receptors for IgG, belongs to a class of receptors which lack intrinsic kinase activity, but activate non-receptor tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases. Receptor engagement triggers a chain of signaling events leading from protein phosphorylation to activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, an increase in intracellular calcium levels, and ultimately the activation of more specialized functions. IgE receptor disengagement leads to reversal of phosphorylation by undefined phosphatases and to inhibition of activation pathways. Here we show that phenylarsine oxide, a chemical which reacts with thiol groups and has been reported to inhibit tyrosine phosphatases, uncouples the IgE receptor-mediated phosphorylation signal from activation of phosphatidyl inositol metabolism, the increase in intracellular calcium levels, and serotonin release. Phenylarsine oxide inhibits neither the kinases (tyrosine and serine/threonine) phosphorylating the receptor and various cellular substrates nor, unexpectedly, the phosphatases responsible for the dephosphorylation following receptor disengagement. By contrast, it abolishes the receptor-mediated phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 1, but not phospholipase C activity in vitro. Therefore the phosphorylation and activation of phospholipase C likely requires a phenylarsine oxide-sensitive element. Receptor aggregation thus activates at least two distinct phosphorylation pathways: a phenylarsine oxide-insensitive pathway leading to phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the receptor and of various substrates and a sensitive pathway leading to phospholipase C-gamma 1 phosphorylation.     

B cell receptor-mediated Syk-independent activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase,Ras, and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

The Syk tyrosine kinase is a key molecule in the development of the B cell lineage and the activation of B lymphocytes after Ag recognition by the B cell Ag receptor (BCR). Several genetic studies with chicken B cells have reported that the recruitment of Syk by BCR is essential for activation of a cascade of signaling molecules including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinases, Ras signaling pathways, phospholipase C-gamma2 activation, and calcium mobilization. The identification of a Syk-deficient mouse IIA1.6/A20 B cell line provided us the opportunity to investigate Syk-mediated signaling in mouse. Surprisingly, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Ras, and mitogen-activated protein kinases were activated upon BCR cross-linking in these Syk-deficient mouse B cells, whereas, as expected from results obtained in chicken B cells, phospholipase C-gamma2 activation and calcium mobilization were impaired as well as the NF-kappaB pathway. These results indicate that BCR signaling is not strictly dependent on Syk expression in mouse IIA1.6/A20 B cells. Thus, B lymphocyte activation may be initiated by Syk-dependent and Syk-independent signaling cascades.     

Src kinase mediates the regulation of phospholipase C-gamma activity by glycosphingolipids

Glucosylceramide-based glycosphingolipids have been previously demonstrated to regulate negatively the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate by phospholipase C-gamma1. In the present study, the depletion of endogenous glucosylceramide by D-t-EtDO-P4 in cultured ECV304 cells induced autophosphorylation of Src kinase at tyrosine residue 418 within the catalytic loop and dephosphorylation of Src kinase at tyrosine residues 529 within the carboxyl-terminal regulatory region. Phosphotransferase activities of Src kinase were also induced in the glucosylceramide-depleted cells. c-Src kinase activity and phosphorylations at Src Tyr-418 and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor Tyr-1068 were significantly enhanced by bradykinin in response to 100 nm D-t-EtDO-P4 compared with control cells. The phosphorylation and dephosphorylation on Tyr-418 and Tyr-529 residues of c-Src were reversed by treatment of 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-t-butyl(pyrazolo)[3,4-d]pyrimidine (PP2), an inhibitor of Src kinase, in control cells. Glucosylceramide-depleted cells resisted treatment with PP2, and both phosphorylation of Tyr-418 and dephosphorylation of Tyr-529 induced by depletion of glucosylceramide were maintained. Compared with untreated cells, tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma1 was enhanced by EGF stimulation in glucosylceramide-depleted cells, associated with enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at Tyr-1068 and Tyr-1086 stimulated by EGF. The Src inhibitor, PP2, significantly blocked EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma1 in control cells, whereas in glucosylceramide-depleted cells, suppression of Src kinase activity by PP2 toward EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma1 was less significant. Thus the activation of Src kinase by depletion of glucosylceramide-based glycosphingolipids in cultured ECV304 cells is a critical up-stream event in the activation of phospholipase C-gamma1.     

Fc epsilon RI-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation of pp72 in rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3). Evidence for a novel signal transduction pathway unrelated to G protein activation and phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis.

Recently, we demonstrated that aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells results in rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a 72-kDa protein (pp72). Here we investigated the relationship of pp72 phosphorylation to guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) activation and phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. The activation of G proteins by NaF in intact cells or by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) in streptolysin O-permeabilized cells induced both phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis and histamine release without tyrosine phosphorylation of pp72. Similarly, in RBL-2H3 cells expressing the G protein-coupled muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, carbachol activated phospholipase C and induced secretion without concomitant pp72 phosphorylation. Therefore, pp72 phosphorylation was not induced by G protein activation or as a consequence of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. To investigate whether pp72 tyrosine phosphorylation precedes the activation of phospholipase C, we studied the effect of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Preincubation of cells with genistein decreased, in parallel, antigen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of pp72 (IC50 = 34 micrograms/ml) and histamine release (IC50 = 31 micrograms/ml). However, genistein at concentrations of up to 60 micrograms/ml did not inhibit phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis nor did it change the amount of the secondary messenger inositol (1,4,5)-triphosphate. Previous observations showed that there was no pp72 tyrosine phosphorylation after activation of protein kinase C or after an increase in intracellular calcium. Taken together, these results suggest that pp72 tyrosine phosphorylation represents a distinct, independent signaling pathway induced specifically by aggregation of the Fc epsilon RI.     

Characterization and cDNA cloning of phospholipase C-gamma, a major substrate for heparin-binding growth factor 1 (acidic fibroblast growth factor)-activated tyrosine kinase.

Heparin-binding growth factors (HBGFs) bind to high-affinity cell surface receptors which possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. A Mr 150,000 protein phosphorylated on tyrosine in response to class 1 HBGF (HBGF-1) was purified and partially sequenced. On the basis of this sequence, cDNA clones were isolated from a human endothelial cell library and identified as encoding phospholipase C-gamma. Phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma in intact cells treated with HBGF-1 was directly demonstrated by using antiphospholipase C-gamma antibodies. Thus, HBGF-1 joins epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, whose receptor activation leads to tyrosine phosphorylation and probable activation of phospholipase C-gamma.     

Activation of a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C by colony stimulating factor 1 receptor requires tyrosine phosphorylation and a guanine nucleotide-binding protein.

Receptor tyrosine kinases couple to multiple intracellular effector molecules that are crucial for normal cell growth and transformation. Stimulation of membrane phospholipid hydrolysis by receptor tyrosine kinases is one such pathway for generating intracellular second messengers that may be important for mitogenesis. Certain receptor tyrosine kinases tyrosine phosphorylate a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C that hydrolyses the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. In contrast, the glycoprotein receptor for colony stimulating factor 1, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase, does not utilize this pathway, but rather stimulates the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine. Here we show that eluates of antiphosphotyrosine affinity purified lysates of colony-stimulating factor 1-stimulated cells contain elevated levels of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C activity. The affinity-purified activity is sensitive to tyrosine-specific T-cell phosphatase, and is detected in the membrane fraction of stimulated cells. Recovery of phospholipase C activity in the antiphosphotyrosine protein fraction is reduced by pertussis toxin pretreatment of cells. The phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C activity in isolated membranes of colony-stimulating factor 1-treated cells was also reduced by pertussis toxin treatment and stimulated by guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate. These results indicate that colony stimulating factor 1 receptor-mediated stimulation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C requires tyrosine phosphorylation, and might be affected by a G-protein coupled pathway.     

Differential mechanisms of inositol phosphate generation at the receptors for bombesin and platelet-derived growth factor.

We investigated the mechanism(s) whereby activation of a growth-factor receptor typically endowed with tyrosine kinase activity, such as the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor, triggers phosphoinositide hydrolysis. In Swiss 3T3 cells permeabilized with streptolysin O, an analogue of GTP, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, was found to potentiate the coupling of the bombesin receptor to phospholipase C. In contrast, the activation of the enzyme by PDGF occurred in a GTP-independent manner. Moreover, the inactive analogue of GTP, guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate, significantly inhibited the bombesin-induced InsP3 generation, whereas it did not decrease the same effect when stimulated by PDGF.     

Phosphorylation and activation of epidermal growth factor receptors in cells transformed by the src oncogene.

Because functionally significant substrates for the tyrosyl protein kinase activity of pp60v-src are likely to include membrane-associated proteins involved in normal growth control, we have tested the hypothesis that pp60v-src could phosphorylate and alter the signaling activity of transmembrane growth factor receptors. We have found that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor becomes constitutively phosphorylated on tyrosine in cells transformed by the src oncogene and in addition displays elevated levels of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. High-performance liquid chromatography phosphopeptide mapping revealed two predominant sites of tyrosine phosphorylation, both of which differed from the major sites of receptor autophosphorylation; thus, the src-induced phosphorylation is unlikely to occur via an autocrine mechanism. To determine whether pp60v-src altered the signaling activity of the EGF receptor, we analyzed the tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma, since phosphorylation of this enzyme occurs in response to activation of the EGF receptor but not in response to pp60v-src alone. We found that in cells coexpressing pp60v-src and the EGF receptor, phospholipase C-gamma was constitutively phosphorylated, a result we interpret as indicating that the signaling activity of the EGF receptor was altered in the src-transformed cells. These findings suggest that pp60v-src-induced alterations in phosphorylation and function of growth regulatory receptors could play an important role in generating the phenotypic changes associated with malignant transformation.     

Autophosphorylation of the intracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor results in different effects on its tyrosine kinase activity with various peptide substrates. Phosphorylation of peptides representing Tyr(P) sites of phospholipase C-gamma.

The effect of autophosphorylation on the tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is not well understood. We previously demonstrated that phospholipase C-gamma physically associates with the EGF-activated EGFR, but not with a kinase-negative mutant of the EGFR, and, moreover, that only the tyrosine-phosphorylated EGFR is able to associate with phospholipase C-gamma. We have now investigated the effect of autophosphorylation on the tyrosine kinase activity of the EGFR by employing the purified kinase-active intracellular domain of the EGFR (EGFR-IC) produced by a baculovirus expression system. Synthetic peptides, including ones which contain the individual major tyrosine phosphorylation sites of phospholipase C-gamma, were used as substrates. We found that the extensively prephosphorylated EGFR-IC exhibited similar reaction kinetics to the unphosphorylated EGFR-IC when angiotensin II was used as a nonspecific substrate. In contrast there was a clear stimulation of kinase activity due to autophosphorylation of the EGFR-IC when peptides representing either the major autophosphorylation site of the EGFR or the EGFR phosphorylation sites of phospholipase C-gamma were used as substrates. However, the modes of stimulation for these peptides differed. The binding affinity (Km) for the unphosphorylated EGFR-IC for the peptide containing Tyr-771 of phospholipase C-gamma was relatively poor compared with other peptides, but improved 5-6-fold when the EGFR-IC was prephosphorylated. On the other hand, autophosphorylation improved the reaction velocity (Vm) of the phosphorylation of other peptides by 2-3-fold, with little or no increase in affinity. These results suggest that autophosphorylation of the EGFR may induce a conformational change of its kinase domain which enhances its kinase activity with exogenous substrates and may induce association with phospholipase C-gamma by increasing its affinity to a domain containing Tyr-771.     

Tyrosine protein kinase is involved in anti-IgM-mediated signaling in BAL17 B lymphoma cells.

BAL17 B lymphoma cells, representing mature B lymphocytes, were used to analyze the role of tyrosine kinase in B cell activation. Anti-IgM-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was inhibited by preincubation of cells with tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A. Enzymatic activity of lyn protein was also inhibited by this drug, accompanied by down-regulation of p53lyn and p56lyn. However, a protein kinase C-mediated event was intact in the herbimycin A-pretreated cells, suggesting that the inhibitor acts selectively on tyrosine kinase. Anti-IgM failed to stimulate herbimycin A-pretreated cells to induce increases in inositol phospholipid metabolism or increased [Ca2+]i, whereas aluminum fluoride-induced metabolism was not altered. Moreover, membrane IgM density as revealed by flow cytometry was not changed by herbimycin A. These results indicate that tyrosine kinase(s) participates in the coupling of an Ag receptor cross-linkage to phospholipase C activation through a phosphorylation event in B lymphoma cells.     

Effect of guanine nucleotides on phospholipase C activity in permeabilized pituitary cells: possible involvement of an inhibitory GTP-binding protein

Cultured pituitary cells prelabeled with myo-[2-3H] inositol were permeabilized by ATP4-, exposed to guanine nucleotides and resealed by Mg2+. Addition of guanosine 5'-0-(3-thio triphosphate) (GTP gamma S) to permeabilized cells, or gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) to resealed cells, resulted in enhanced phospholipase C activity as determined by [3H] inositol phosphate (Ins-P) production. The effect was not additive, but the combined effect was partially inhibited by guanosine 5'-0-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) or by neomycin. Surprisingly, addition of GDP beta S (100-600 microM) on its own resulted in a dose-related increase in [3H]Ins-P accumulation. Several nucleoside triphosphates stimulated phospholipase C activity in permeabilized pituitary cells with the following order: UTP greater than GTP gamma S greater than ATP greater than CTP. The stimulatory effect of UTP, ATP and CTP, but not GTP gamma S or GDP beta S, could also be demonstrated in normal pituitary cells suggesting a receptor-activated mechanism. GTP and GTP gamma S decreased the affinity of GnRH binding to pituitary membranes and stimulated LH secretion in permeabilized cells. These results suggest the existence of at least two G-proteins (stimulatory and inhibitory) which are involved in phospholipase C activation and GnRH action in pituitary cells.     

Effects of substitution of threonine 654 of the epidermal growth factor receptor on epidermal growth factor-mediated activation of phospholipase C

Addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to many cell types activates phospholipase C resulting in increased levels of diacylglycerol and intracellular Ca2+ which may lead to activation of protein kinase C. EGF treatment of cells can also lead to phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at threonine 654 (a protein kinase C phosphorylation site) which appears to attenuate some aspects of receptor signaling. Thus, a feedback loop involving the EGF receptor, phospholipase C, and protein kinase C may regulate EGF receptor function. In this report, the role of phosphorylation of threonine 654 of the EGF receptor in regulation of EGF-stimulated activation of phospholipase C was investigated. NIH-3T3 cells expressing the normal human EGF receptor or expressing EGF receptor in which an alanine residue had been substituted at residue 654 of the receptor were used. Addition of EGF to cells expressing wild-type receptor induced a rapid, but transient, increase in phosphorylation of threonine 654. EGF addition also caused the rapid accumulation of inositol phosphates in these cells. EGF-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates was significantly higher in cells expressing Ala-654 receptors compared to control cells. Treatment of cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), which stimulated phosphorylation of threonine 654 to a greater degree than EGF, completely inhibited EGF-dependent inositol phosphate accumulation in cells expressing wild-type receptor, but caused only a 20-30% inhibition in Ala-654 expressing cells. EGF stimulated phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma on serine and tyrosine residues in cells expressing wild-type of Ala-654 receptors. However, TPA treatment of cells inhibited EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma only in cells expressing wild-type receptors. Similarly, TPA inhibited tyrosine-specific autophosphorylation of the EGF receptor and tyrosine phosphorylation of several other proteins in wild-type receptor cells, but not in Ala-654 cells. TPA treatment abolished high affinity binding of EGF to cells expressing wild-type receptors, while decreasing the number of high affinity binding sites 20-30% in Ala-654 cells. These data suggest that phosphorylation of threonine 654 can regulate early events in EGF receptor signal transduction such as phosphoinositide turnover, probably through a feedback mechanism involving protein kinase C. Subsequent dephosphorylation of threonine 654 could reactivate the EGF receptor for participation in later signaling events.     

Intracellular single-chain variable fragments directed to the Src homology 2 domains of Syk partially inhibit Fc epsilon RI signaling in the RBL-2H3 cell line

Intracellular expression of Ab fragments has been efficiently used to inactivate therapeutic targets, oncogene products, and to induce viral resistance in plants. Ab fragments expressed in the appropriate cell compartment may also help to elucidate the functions of a protein of interest. We report in this study the successful targeting of the protein tyrosine kinase Syk in the RBL-2H3 rat basophilic leukemia cell line. We isolated from a phage display library human single-chain variable fragments (scFv) directed against the portion of Syk containing the Src homology 2 domains and the linker region that separates them. Among them, two scFv named G4G11 and G4E4 exhibited the best binding to Syk in vivo in a yeast two-hybrid selection system. Stable transfectants of RBL-2H3 cells expressing cytosolic G4G11 and G4E4 were established. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that intracellular G4G11 and G4E4 bind to Syk, but do not inhibit the activation of Syk following FcepsilonRI aggregation, suggesting that the scFv do not affect the recruitment of Syk to the receptor. Nevertheless, FcepsilonRI-mediated calcium mobilization and the release of inflammatory mediators are inhibited, and are consistent with a defect in Bruton's tyrosine kinase and phospholipase C-gamma2 tyrosine phosphorylation and activation. Interestingly, FcepsilonRI-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation is not altered, suggesting that intracellular G4G11 and G4E4 do not prevent the coupling of Syk to the Ras pathway, but they selectively inhibit the pathway involving phospholipase C-gamma2 activation.     

Phospholipase C-gamma 1 and phospholipase C-gamma 2 are substrates of the B cell antigen receptor associated protein tyrosine kinase.

Cross-linking the antigen receptor on B cells results in a rapid increase in protein tyrosine kinase activity as detected by increased phosphorylation on tyrosine residues of multiple proteins. Although the identity of most of this substrates remains unknown, some have been proposed. One possible substrate of the antigen receptor-associated kinase is phospholipase C (PLC). Since multiple isoforms of PLC have been identified, we have studied which isoforms are targets of the antigen receptor. PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2 but not PLC-beta 1 or PLC-delta 1 were detected in human B cells. Immunoprecipitation with antibodies against PLC-gamma 1 or PLC-gamma 2 and subsequent Western blotting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies revealed that both PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2 are tyrosine phosphorylated in stimulated but not in resting B cells. This was confirmed by experiments whereby B cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and subsequently blotted with antibodies against PLC-gamma 1 or PLC-gamma 2. Further, the specific protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrphostins, which block phospholipase-C activation and proliferation of B cells also inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation on both PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2. We conclude that both isoforms PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2 are targets of the antigen receptor-associated protein tyrosine kinase.     

IgE-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 in rat basophilic leukemia cells.

Stimulation of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells with oligomeric IgE elicited a rapid and transient phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 1 on tyrosine residues. Prior incubation of RBL-2H3 cells with a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, prevented the tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 as well as the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate induced by oligomeric IgE. However, 5'-(N-ethyl)carboxamidoadenosine, which is known to activate PLC through a G protein, did not elicit tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1. These results, together with previous findings showing that tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 enhances its catalytic activity, indicate that phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 by a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase is the mechanism by which IgE receptor aggregation triggers PLC activation.     

B cell receptor-induced cAMP-response element-binding protein activation in B lymphocytes requires novel protein kinase Cdelta

The cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) is activated by phosphorylation on Ser-133 and plays a key role in the proliferative and survival responses of mature B cells to B cell receptor (BCR) signaling. The signal link between the BCR and CREB activation depends on a phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate)-sensitive protein kinase C (PKC) activity and not protein kinase A or calmodulin kinase; however, the identity and role of the PKC(s) activity has not been elucidated. We found the novel PKCdelta (nPKCdelta) activator bistratene A is sufficient to induce CREB phosphorylation in murine splenic B cells. The pharmacological inhibitor G?6976, which targets conventional PKCs and PKCmu, has no effect on CREB phosphorylation, whereas the nPKCdelta inhibitor rottlerin blocks CREB phosphorylation following BCR cross-linking. Bryostatin 1 selectively prevents nPKCdelta depletion by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate when coapplied, coincident with protection of BCR-induced CREB phosphorylation. Ectopic expression of a kinase-inactive nPKCdelta blocks BCR-induced CREB phosphorylation in A20 B cells. In addition, BCR-induced CREB phosphorylation is significantly diminished in nPKCdelta-deficient splenic B cells in comparison with wild type mice. Consistent with the essential role for Bruton's tyrosine kinase and phospholipase Cgamma2 in mediating PKC activation, Bruton's tyrosine kinase- and phospholipase Cgamma2-deficient B cells display defective CREB phosphorylation by the BCR. We also found that p90 RSK directly phosphorylates CREB on Ser-133 following BCR cross-linking and is positioned downstream of nPKCdelta. Taken together, these results suggest a model in which BCR engagement leads to the phosphorylation of CREB via a signaling pathway that requires nPKCdelta and p90 RSK in mature B cells.