Cell Antigen Receptor Signal Transduction Research Articles

Apoptosis and antigen receptor function in T and B cells following exposure to herpes simplex virus

T cells are an essential component of the immune response against herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. We previously reported that incubation of T cells with HSV-infected fibroblasts inhibits subsequent T cell antigen receptor signal transduction. In the current study, we found that incubation of T cells with HSV-infected fibroblasts also leads to apoptosis in exposed T cells. Apoptosis was observed in Jurkat cells, a T cell leukemia line, and also in CD4 + cells isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Direct infection of these cells with HSV also resulted in apoptosis. Clinical isolates of both HSV type 1 and 2 induced apoptosis in infected T cells at comparable levels to cells infected with laboratory strains of HSV, suggesting an immune evasion mechanism that may be clinically relevant. Further understanding of these viral immune evasion mechanisms could be exploited for better management of HSV infection.

Differential Association of CD45 Isoforms with CD4 and CD8 Regulates the Actions of Specific Pools of p56lck Tyrosine Kinase in T Cell Antigen Receptor Signal Transduction

An investigation into the role of CD45 isoforms in T cell antigen receptor signal transduction was carried out by transfecting CD45-negative CD4(+)CD8(+) HPB-ALL T cells with the CD45R0, CD45RBC, and CD45RABC isoforms. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis showed that the CD45R0 isoform, but not the CD45RBC or CD45RABC isoforms, was found as homodimers and also preferentially associated with CD4 and CD8 at the cell-surface. A comparison was therefore made of T cell antigen receptor signaling between sub-clones expressing either CD45R0 or CD45RBC. Under basal conditions CD4-associated p56(lck) tyrosine kinase activity and cellular protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels were higher in the CD45R0(+) than in the CD45RBC(+) sub-clones. Upon CD3-CD4 ligation, TCR-zeta phosphorylation, ZAP-70 recruitment to the p21/p23 TCR-zeta phosphoisomers, ZAP-70 phosphorylation, as well as p56(lck), c-Cbl and Slp-76 phosphorylation, were all markedly increased in CD45R0(+) compared with CD45RBC(+) cells. T cell antigen receptor (TCR) stimulation alone also promoted c-Cbl phosphorylation in CD45R0(+) but not in CD45RBC(+) cells. Our results are consistent with a model in which association of CD45R0 with CD4 generates a more active pool of CD4-associated p56(lck) kinase molecules. Upon CD3-CD4 co-ligation, the active p56(lck) increases the intensity of T cell antigen receptor signal transduction coupling by promoting TCR-zeta chain phosphorylation and ZAP-70 recruitment.

The Role of the Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase CD45 in Regulation of B Lymphocyte Activation

The transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 is expressed throughout B cell development and differentiation, with the exception of terminally differentiated plasma cells on which its expression is down regulated. Numerous studies using CD45-deficient B cell lines and CD45-deficient mice have clearly demonstrated that CD45 plays an important role in modulating the signal that is transduced via the B cell antigen receptor by regulating the phosphorylation state of Src family kinases. Spatial and temporal controls enable CD45 to promote B cell antigen receptor signal transduction by constitutively maintaining Src family kinases in a partially active state, such that the B cell is able to effectively respond to an antigenic challenge. Moreover, CD45 is required for optimal activation of Ca2+-dependent and MAP kinase-dependent signal transduction pathways in the B cell. The net result is that CD45 affects the B cell response by controlling the relative threshold of sensitivity to a given antigenic stimulus. Thus, CD45 expression and function is required for normal B cell development, tolerance induction, and responsiveness to antigen.

Positive and negative roles of the tyrosine kinase Lyn in B cell function

The function of Lyn in B cell activation has been studied recently by examining the properties of B cells from mice in which thelyngene has been inactivated by gene targeting. These mice show evidence of B cell hyperreactivityin vivo,as the number of B lymphoblastoid cells greatly increase with age, IgM levels increase by 10-fold or more, and auto- antibodies to double-stranded DNA and other nuclear antigens become apparent. B cells fromlyn−/−mice also exhibit enhanced BCR-induced activation of MAP kinases, intracellular calcium elevation and proliferative responsesin vitro.Thes e phenomena may relate to participation of Lyn in events that serve to decrease B cell responses to antigen. Among the leading candidates for these suppressive events are the inhibition of B cell antigen receptor function by FcγRIIb1 and by CD22. Although Lyn also participates positively in the initial events of B cell antigen receptor signal transduction, this function can also be supplied by other tyrosine kinases, presumably other Src-family kinases. In contrast, some aspects of inhibition by CD22 appear to be almost completely dependent upon Lyn and FcγRIIb1 inhibition is also diminished in the absence of Lyn. Thus, the net effect of Lyn action is negative rather than positive for B cell activation.

Negative Regulation of T Cell Antigen Receptor Signal Transduction by Hematopoietic Tyrosine Phosphatase (HePTP)

The hematopoietic tyrosine phosphatase (HePTP) is predominantly expressed in thymocytes and T lymphocytes and at lower levels in other hematopoietic cells. Expression of the gene is enhanced by the T cell growth factor interleukin-2, suggesting a role for HePTP in T cell proliferation or differentiation. We report that HePTP blocks T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-induced transcriptional activation of a reporter gene driven by a nuclear factor of activated T cells(NFAT)/AP-1 element taken from the interleukin-2 gene promoter. This effect was specific to HePTP and was abolished by a mutation (C270S) that impaired its phosphatase activity. Co-expression of HePTP also reduced TCR-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase Erk2 and the TCR-induced appearance of phosphorylated Erk. In contrast, HePTP did not affect the activation of the N-terminal c-Jun kinase, Jnk. Together these findings suggest that HePTP plays an active negative role in TCR signaling by dephosphorylating one or several signaling molecules between the receptor and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Asymmetrical Phosphorylation and Function of Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-Based Activation Motif Tyrosines in B Cell Antigen Receptor Signal Transduction

CD79a and CD79b function as transducers of B cell antigen receptor signals via a cytoplasmic sequence, termed the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). ITAMs contain two conserved tyrosines that may become phosphorylated upon receptor aggregation and bind distinct effectors by virtue of the distinct preference of phosphotyrosyl-containing sequences for SH2 domains. To explore the function of CD79a and CD79b ITAM tyrosines, we created membrane molecules composed of MHC class II I-Ak extracellular and transmembrane domains, and CD79a or CD79b cytoplasmic domains in which one or both of the ITAM tyrosines were mutated to phenylalanine. Functional analysis revealed that both ITAM tyrosines are required for ligand-induced Syk phosphorylation. However CD79a-ITAM and CD79b-ITAM tyrosine phosphorylations were asymmetrical, with >80% of phosphorylation occurring on the N-terminal tyrosine (Y-E-G-L). Thus, these findings suggest that following receptor ligation, only a minor proportion of phosphorylated ITAMs are doubly phosphorylated and thus can engage Syk. Only the N-terminal ITAM tyrosine of CD79a was required for ligand-mediated phosphorylation of the receptor and a subset of downstream substrates, including p62, p110, and Shc, and for Ca2+ mobilization. However, responses mediated through CD79b exhibited a greater dependence on the presence of both tyrosines. Neither tyrosine in CD79a or CD79b appeared absolutely essential for Src family kinase phosphorylation. These results indicate that phosphorylations of the tyrosines in CD79a and CD79b occur with very different stoichiometry, and the respective tyrosyl residues have distinct functions.

T cell antigen receptor signal transduction

The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) initiates sigal transduction by activating multiple cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). Considerable progress in the field of TCR signal transduction has been made in three areas recently: first, in understanding the structure and function of the PTK ZAP-70; second, in the elucidation of the function of the substrates and pathways downstream of the PTKs; and third, in the identification of molecules that negatively regulate TCR signaling.

Molecular targets of CD45 in B cell antigen receptor signal transduction.

Expression of the phosphotyrosine phosphatase CD45 is essential for B cell Ag receptor (BCR)-mediated p21ras activation and calcium mobilization. To examine the molecular basis of this requirement, we analyzed signaling events following BCR ligation in CD45-deficient (CD45-) and CD45-reconstituted (CD45+) variants of J558Lmicrom3 cells. Ag stimulation resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins in both cells. However, the spectrum of proteins phosphorylated in the CD45+ cells was qualitatively and/or quantitatively distinct from that in the CD45- cells. Among the protein tyrosine kinases examined, the Src family kinases Fyn and Blk were inducibly tyrosine phosphorylated and activated by receptor ligation only in CD45+ cells. While Ag-induced Btk tyrosine phosphorylation occurred in both cells, its activation was greatly diminished in the CD45- cells. Analysis of specific effector molecules revealed that tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, but not rasGAP or Vav, correlated with the unique ability of BCR ligation to trigger p21ras activation in CD45+ cells. BCR-mediated Shc phosphorylation and recruitment of Grb2 depended on CD45 expression. Thus, Shc tyrosine phosphorylation may be the primary CD45-dependent mechanism by which Ag receptors are coupled to the p21ras pathway in J558Lmicrom3. In addition, phospholipase Cgamma1 (PLCgamma1) and PLCgamma2 were tyrosine phosphorylated upon Ag stimulation in CD45- cells, despite much reduced inositol trisphosphate production and lack of calcium mobilization. These findings suggest that CD45 may modulate events other than PLCgamma phosphorylation, which regulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis and the calcium mobilization response following BCR ligation.

Regulation of the Lck SH2 Domain by Tyrosine Phosphorylation

Src homology 2 (SH2) domains bind to phosphotyrosine (Tyr(P)) residues in specific sequence contexts in other proteins and thereby mediate tyrosine phosphorylationdependent protein-protein interactions. The SH2 domain of the Src family kinase Lck is phosphorylated at tyrosine 192 in T cells upon T cell antigen receptor triggering. We have studied the consequences of this phosphorylation on the properties of the SH2 domain and on the function of Lck in T cell activation. We report that phosphorylation at Tyr192 reduced the capacity of the isolated SH2 domain to bind a high affinity peptide ligand and Tyr(P)-containing cellular proteins. This effect was mimicked by mutation of Tyr192 to an acidic residue. In intact T cells, where Lck participates in T cell antigen receptor signal transduction in an SH2 domain-dependent manner, phosphorylation of Tyr192 correlated with reduced downstream signaling. Our results indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of the SH2 domain of Lck terminates its high affinity binding to ligands, thereby negatively regulating its participation in T cell antigen receptor signaling. This represents a novel mechanism for the regulation of the function of SH2 domains.

Syk Mutation in Jurkat E6-derived Clones Results in Lack of p72syk Expression

The human leukemic Jurkat cell line is commonly used as a model cellular system to study T lymphocyte signal transduction. Various clonal derivatives of Jurkat T cells exist which display different characteristics with regard to responses to external stimuli. Among these, the E6-1 clone of Jurkat T cells has been used as a parental line from which numerous important somatic mutant clones have been generated. During the course of experiments examining signals initiated by the T cell antigen receptor in an E6-1-derived Jurkat cell clone J.CaM1, we observed that the 72-kilodalton Syk protein tyrosine kinase previously found in other Jurkat cells was not detected. Upon further analysis it was determined that Syk transcripts from the J.CaM1 cells as well as the parental E6-1 cells contain a single guanine nucleotide insertion at position 92. This nucleotide insertion results in a shift in the Syk open reading frame leading to alternate codon usage as well as the generation of a termination codon at position 109. Thus, Syk transcripts in E6-1 cells and E6-1-derived clones are predicted to be capable of encoding only the first 33 amino acids of the 630-amino acid wild type Syk. These findings are incompatible with a recently proposed model of T cell antigen receptor signal transduction based, in part, on experiments conducted using E6-1-derived cells, suggesting that Syk might play a role upstream of Lck and Zap70.

GLUCOCORTICOIDS REGULATE CALCINEURIN-DEPENDENT TRANS-ACTIVATING PATHWAYS FOR INTERLEUKIN-2 GENE TRANSCRIPTION IN HUMAN T LYMPHOCYTES

Glucocorticoids (GC) inhibit IL-2 gene transcription by interfering with the binding of the nuclear factor activator protein-1 on the IL-2 promoter. Calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, is an essential component of the T cell antigen receptor signal transduction pathway leading to IL-2 gene transcription. Therefore, we have asked whether this phosphatase may also be regulated by GC. Jurkat T cells were cotransfected with plasmids containing the intact IL-2 promoter or its NF-AT and Oct-1 motifs, and a deletion mutant (delta CaM-AI) of calcineurin known to have Ca(2+)-independent constitutive phosphatase activity. Cotransfection of IL-2 promoter with delta CaM-AI allowed the activation of IL-2 promoter in the presence of phorbol ester alone. Under these conditions dexamethasone (Dex; 10(-6) M) inhibited IL-2 promoter activation by 50-60%. The inhibitory effect of Dex was specific, as demonstrated by experiments using an unrelated promoter (simian virus 40) and estradiol. Furthermore, it was completely reversed in the presence of excess amounts of the glucocorticoid antagonist RU 486, which suggests that it is mediated through the glucocorticoid receptor. Overexpression of calcineurin via delta CaM-AI in Jurkat cells decreased their apparent sensitivity to Dex (approximately 5-fold increase in IC50). Similar results were obtained with the NF-AT and Oct-1 constructs, which are also known to be activated by calcineurin. Thus, in addition to their known inhibitory effects on activator protein-1, GC also inhibit calcineurin-dependent pathways for T cell activation.

Temporal regulation of non-transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase enzyme activity following T cell antigen receptor engagement.

We evaluated in Jurkat T cells the time-dependent responses of Fyn, Lck, Syk, and Zap following antibody-mediated cross-linking of the T cell antigen receptor. Our results show that the protein kinase activities of Fyn and Lck were activated within seconds of receptor cross-linking. Fyn activity, as measured by autophosphorylation and tyrosine phosphorylation of an exogenous substrate, was maximal 5 s to 1 min following receptor cross-linking. Lck was also found to be activated within 5 s of antigen receptor cross-linking but differed from Fyn in that Lck activity was elevated for at least 30 min. Syk and Zap protein kinase activities were found to peak between 5 and 10 min following receptor cross-linking, returning to approximately basal activity levels by 60 min. The protein kinase activities of both Syk and Zap were found to parallel their reactivity in immunoblotting experiments with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. Both Syk and Zap were found to associate with the tyrosine-phosphorylated zeta subunit of the T cell antigen receptor. These observations imply that T cell antigen receptor signal transduction involves the activation of multiple members of at least two different families of non-transmembrane protein tyrosine kinases.

The role of protein tyrosine kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases in T cell antigen receptor signal transduction.

Engagement of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) by peptide antigen bound to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules initiates a biochemical cascade involving protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). Recent biochemical and genetic evidence has implicated at least three cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), Lck, Fyn, and ZAP-70, that are involved in the initiation of TCR signal transduction. In addition, genetic evidence has demonstrated the requirement of the transmembrane PTPase, CD45, for TCR function. Activation of T cells through the TCR represents an alteration in the dynamic equilibrium between PTKs and PTPases. The TCR is a multi-subunit complex composed of at least six different gene products. Dissection of the TCR utilizing chimeric receptors and TCR mutants has demonstrated that the multi-subunit receptor is composed of at least two signal transducing modules, the CD3 and the zeta chain subunits. These two modules have in common peptide sequences within their cytoplasmic domains termed antigen recognition activation motifs (ARAMs) that are responsible for transducing signaling events. Moreover, the ARAM sequence is also found in subunits associated with a variety of other hematopoietic cell antigen receptors and is likely to form the basis for interactions with effector molecules within the signaling cascades of these receptors. Here we review the mechanism by which the ARAM sequences interact with PTKs and the cascades of PTKs and PTPases that are involved in mediating TCR function.

Molecular and genetic insights into T cell antigen receptor signal transduction.

T lymphocytes are relatively quiescent cells, poised in the G0 stage of the cell cycle, until they encounter antigen. The initiation of an immune response by T cells requires the recognition of antigen by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and the conversion of this recognition event into biochemical signals that can induce a cellular response. This cellular response leads to the clonal expansion of antigen-specific differentiated effector T cells.KeywordsProtein Tyrosine KinaseAntigen ReceptorBovine Leukemia VirusSevere Combine ImmunodeficiencyProtein Tyrosine PhosphorylationThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

The Role of Protein Tyrosine Kinases and Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in T Cell Antigen Receptor Signal Transduction

The Role of Protein Tyrosine Kinases and Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in T Cell Antigen Receptor Signal Transduction

T cell antigen receptor signal transduction: A tale of tails and cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinases

The mechanisms by which extracellular ligands induce receptor-regulated signal transduction events have been an area of intense investigation. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding howthe binding of extracellular ligands to protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) growth factor receptors induces the activation of their kinase domains. In contrast, the mechanism whereby receptors without an intrinsic PTK domain activate cytoplasmic PTKs has been enigmatic. However, recent studies of receptors involved in antigen recognition by cells of the hematopoietic lineage provide insight into functionally important cytoplasmic sequence motifs of these receptors and the interaction of these motifs with cytoplasmic PTKs of the Src and non-Src types. This review focuses on mechanisms involved in PTK activation by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR), but similar mechanisms are likely to be relevant for the B cell antigen receptor, the mast cell and basophil high affinity Fc receptorfor immunoglobulin (lg) E (FcsR), and certain Fc receptors expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and myeloid cells. These receptors are involved in the initiation of cellular activation or differentiation but are not directly involved in cell proliferation. All of these receptors, which are responsible for antigen recognition, initiate cellular activation by regulating the function of cytoplasmic PTKs that control the activation of intracellular signaling molecules, such as phospholipase C (reviewed by Samelson and Klausner, 1992). Act/vat/on Motifs in the TCR CD3 and 4 Chains Regulate Cytoplasmic PTKs The TCR is a complex oligomer composed of the products of six genes (Figure l), all of which are required for efficient plasma membrane expression. Together, the a and 8 chains form the ligand-binding subunit responsible for recognition of an antigenic peptide bound to a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. The CD3 and 5 chains are responsible for signal transduction. Recent studies with chimeric molecules and reconstituted receptors have provided definitive evidence for a signal transduction function for the CD3 and c chains. The transmembrane and membrane-proximal segments of the TCR chains are responsible for the interchain associations and the assembly of the oligomeric receptor. This observation permitted the development of a strategy to study the functions of the individual cytoplasmic domains of CD3 or r;. Chimeric molecules containing the cytoplasmic domain of 6, its alternatively spliced product n, or the related FCER y chains fused to the extracellular and transmembrane domains of another receptor (including CD8, CD4, CD18, and the interleukin-2 [IL-21 receptor a chain) could be expressed independently of theTCR (Irving and Weiss, 1991; Letourneur and Klausner, 1991; Romeo and Seed, 1991). Stimulation of these chimeric receptors with natural ligands or monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) induce all the early and late events characteristically associated with the intact oligomeric TCR. These findings suggest that 1; or the related chains can function to couple the TCR to intracellular signal transduction machinery. Surprisingly, subsequent experiments suggested a similar function for the CD3 chains. Reconstitution of TCR expression on a T cell hybridoma with cDNAs encoding various TCR chains has revealed that a funcfionally active TCR can be restored with a r; chain that is essentially devoid of cytoplasmic sequences (Wegener et al., 1992). A signaling function for the CD3 chains was confirmed when a chimeric molecule incorporating the CD3 E chain cytoplasmic domain was shown to be capable of activating a T cell hybridoma (Letourneur and Klausner, 1992). Thus, the CD3 and r; chains, though structurally distinct, appear to have redundant functions in TCR signaling. Identification of the functional domains of the chimeric receptors (Irving et al., 1993; Letourneur and Klausner, 1992; Romeo et al., 1992) explained the redundancy of function of the CD3 and r; chains. A sequence motif, first noted by Reth (1989), which is triplicated in 5 and present as a single copy in each of the CD3 chains, is responsible for the signal transduction capability of these chains (Figures 1 and 2). This motif, referred to herein as the antigen recognition activation motif (ARAM), is based on tyrosine and leucine (or isoleucine) residues. ARAMs are also present in the cytoplasmic domains of the proteins (Iga and lgp) associated with immunoglobulin on B cells, the 8 and y chains of the FcsR on mast cells and basophils, and, interestingly, the envelope glycoprotein of the bovine leukemia virus that induces polyclonal B cell proliferation. Since the genomic structure of each ARAM within c, CD3, Iga, lgp, and the FcsR j3 and y chains is similar (each motif is

CD28 and T cell antigen receptor signal transduction coordinately regulate interleukin 2 gene expression in response to superantigen stimulation.

Activation of an immune response requires intercellular contact between T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells (APC). Interaction of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) with antigen in the context of major histocompatibility molecules mediates signal transduction, but T cell activation appears to require the induction of a second costimulatory signal transduction pathway. Recent studies suggest that interaction of CD28 with B7 on APC might deliver such a costimulatory signal. To investigate the role of CD28 signal transduction during APC-dependent T cell activation, we have used Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) presented by a B7-positive APC. We used anti-B7 monoclonal antibodies and a mutant interleukin 2 (IL-2) promoter construct, unresponsive to CD28-generated signals, in transient transfection assays to examine the contribution of the CD28-B7 interaction to IL-2 gene activation. These studies indicate that the CD28-regulated signal transduction pathway is activated during SE stimulation of T cells and plays an important role in SE induction of IL-2 gene expression through its influence upon the CD28-responsive element contained within the IL-2 gene promoter. This effect is particularly profound in the activation of the IL-2 gene in peripheral blood T cells.

Regulation of B cell antigen receptor signal transduction and phosphorylation by CD45.

CD45 is a member of a family of membrane proteins that possess phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity, and is the source of much of the tyrosine phosphatase activity in lymphocytes. In view of its enzymatic activity and high copy number, it seems likely that CD45 functions in transmembrane signal transduction by lymphocyte receptors that are coupled to activation of tyrosine kinases. The B cell antigen receptor was found to transduce a Ca(2+)-mobilizing signal only if cells expressed CD45. Also, both membrane immunoglobulin M (mIgM) and CD45 were lost from the surface of cells treated with antibody to CD45, suggesting a physical interaction between these proteins. Finally, CD45 dephosphorylated a complex of mIg-associated proteins that appears to function in signal transduction by the antigen receptor. These data indicate that CD45 occurs as a component of a complex of proteins associated with the antigen receptor, and that CD45 may regulate signal transduction by modulating the phosphorylation state of the antigen receptor subunits.