Dynamic equilibrium of B7-1 dimers and monomers is important for regulation of TCR/CD28 – mediated T cell activation (33.28)

Abstract

Abstract Under steady state conditions, B7-1 is present as a mixed population of non-covalent dimers and monomers on the cell surface. Here we have examined the physiological significance of this unique dimer-monomer equilibrium state of B7-1. We demonstrate that altering B7-1 to uniformly covalent dimeric state results in increased frequency of CD28 mediated T cell-APC conjugates. This augmented T cell-APC conjugate formation correlates with persistent concentration of signaling molecules, PKC-θ and lck, at the immunological synapse (IS) and with a higher calcium flux in T cells. In contrast, B7-1 acquisition by T cells, an event that occurs as a consequence of CD28 engagement with B7-1/B7-2, is highly reduced when B7-1 is present in covalently dimeric state. The ability of covalently dimeric and wild type B7-1 to costimulate antigen-specific T cell proliferation was also assessed. In contrast to the enhanced ability of dimeric B7-1 to support proximal T cell activation events, sensitivity to competitive inhibition by soluble CTLA-4:Ig indicated that the covalent dimeric form of B7-1 is in fact less efficient in costimulating T cell proliferation. These findings suggest a novel model in which optimal T cell costimulatory function of B7-1 requires CD28 engagement by B7-1 in a non-covalent dimeric state, followed by dissociation of these B7-1 dimers, facilitating downregulation of CD28 and internalization of B7-1.