Enhanced T-cell activation and differentiation in lymphocytes from transgenic mice expressing ubiquitination-resistant 2KR LAT molecules.

Linker for activation of T cells (LAT) is critical for the propagation of T-cell signals upon T-cell receptor (TCR) activation. Previous studies demonstrated that substitution of LAT lysines with arginines (2KR LAT) resulted in decreased LAT ubiquitination and elevated T-cell signaling, indicating that LAT ubiquitination is a molecular checkpoint for attenuation of T-cell signaling. To investigate the role of LAT ubiquitination in vivo, we have generated transgenic mice expressing WT and ubiquitin-defective 2KR LAT. On TCR stimulation of T cells from these mice, proximal signaling and cytokine production was elevated in 2KR versus wild-type (WT) LAT mice. Enhanced cytolytic activity as well as T-helper responses were observed on LAT expression, which were further elevated by 2KR LAT expression. Despite greater T-effector function, WT or 2KR LAT expression did not have any effect on clearance of certain pathogens or tumors. Our data support the model that lack of tumor clearance is due to increased differentiation and acquisition of effector phenotype that is associated with suboptimal immunity in an immunotherapy model. Thus, our data further reinforce the role of LAT ubiquitination in TCR signaling and uncovers a novel role for LAT in driving T-cell differentiation.

In vitro cell-mediated immune responses to the male specific(H-Y) antigen in mice.

C57BL/10 female mice were primed to the male specific antigen H-Y, either by grafting with syngeneic male tail skin or by i.p. injection of syngeneic male spleen cells. Primed female spleen cells, either unseparated or filtered through nylon wool to remove most of the B lymphocytes, were then cultured for 5 days in vitro with irradiated syngeneic male spleen cells and assayed against 51Cr-labeled target cells. Both unseparated and nylon wool filtered female cells displayed significant cytotoxic activity restricted to male target cells. Pretreatment of sensitized female cells with antitheta serum and complement just before assay abolished cytotoxic responses. We were unable to demonstrate cell-mediated cytotoxic responses into two nonresponding strains, CBA and B10.A, which fail to reject male isografts. The cytotoxic activity of C57BL/10 female cells was restricted to male target cells histocompatible with C57BL/10 over at least a portion of the major (H-2) histocompatibility complex. We conclude that secondary in vitro cytotoxic responses against the H-Y antigen are mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and that the H-Y target cell antigen may be specified by the H-2 complex.

Selective response to H-Y antigen by F1 female mice sensitized to F1 male cells.

T-cell mediated cytotoxic responses to H-Y antigen require co-recognition of H-Y and H-2 gene products. F1 mael stimulating cells and target cells express H-Y antigen in association with both parental H-2 haplotypes. However, F1 females primed in vivo and challenged in vitro with F1 male cells lyse male target cells of F1 and only one parental H-2 haplotype. Thus, (CBA X B10)F1 females sensitized to (CBA X B10)F1 male cells lyse (CBA X B10)F1 and CBA but not B10 male target cells, and (BALB/c X B10)F1 females sensitized to (BALB/c X B10)F1 male cells will lyse (BALB/c X B10)F1 and B10 but not BALB/c male target cells. It is suggested that this may represent an effect of immune response or suppressor genes mapping in the major histocompatibility gene complex which regulate responsiveness to H-Y antigen.

Association of the adaptor molecule LAT with CD4 and CD8 coreceptors identifies a new coreceptor function in T cell receptor signal transduction.

Linker for activation of T cells (LAT) is an adaptor protein whose tyrosine phosphorylation is critical for transduction of the T cell receptor (TCR) signal. LAT phosphorylation is accomplished by the protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70, but it is not at all clear how LAT (which is not associated with the TCR) encounters ZAP-70 (which is bound to the TCR). Here we show that LAT associates with surface CD4 and CD8 coreceptors and that its association is promoted by the same coreceptor cysteine motif that mediates Lck binding. In fact, LAT competes with Lck for binding to individual coreceptor molecules but differs from Lck in its preferential association with CD8 rather than CD4 in CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes. Importantly, as a consequence of LAT association with surface coreceptors, coengagement of the TCR with surface coreceptors induces LAT phosphorylation and the specific recruitment of downstream signaling mediators to coreceptor-associated LAT molecules. These results point to a new function for CD4 and CD8 coreceptors in TCR signal transduction, namely to promote LAT phosphorylation by ZAP-70 by recruiting LAT to major histocompatibility complex-engaged TCR complexes.

Transient rearrangements of the T cell antigen receptor alpha locus in early thymocytes.

The dull Ly-1 double-negative (Ly-1dull, Lyt-2-, L3T4-) subpopulation appears to be the major precursor group of T lymphocytes in the thymus. In examining the status of the alpha, beta, and gamma chain genes for T cell receptors (TCR) in this population of cells and hybridomas made from them, we find that all of these loci appear to begin DNA rearrangements in a nearly simultaneous fashion. In the case of the gamma genes, these involve V gamma----J gamma C gamma gene rearrangements; with the beta chain genes, both D beta----J beta C beta rearrangement and V beta----D beta J beta C beta rearrangements are evident; and in the case of the alpha locus, assayed in part by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, they take the form of a novel series of rearrangements occurring 80 kb or more 5' to the C alpha gene. These alpha locus rearrangements are well away from any of the J alpha gene segments found in cDNA clones to date and are deleted in most mature thymocytes and functional T cell lines. Therefore they appear to represent a distinct class of rearrangement that occurs before V alpha----J alpha joining. These distinctions between the character of the TCR gene rearrangements in these cells represent useful markers in further distinguishing different stages of T cell differentiation within this compartment of early T cells. In addition, the unexpected discovery of clonal rearrangements so far away from any of the expressed J alpha gene segments, and at a stage where there is little or no stable C alpha RNA present, has interesting implications for the hierarchy of TCR gene expression.

The effect of allogeneic presensitization on H-Y graft survival and in vitro cell-mediated responses to H-y antigen.

C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 female mice were grafted with skin from male or female donors incompatible for H-2 and/or non-H-2 antigens. Syngeneic male grafts applied after the rejection of primary allografts or syngeneic male grafts were rejected in accelerated (second set) fashion, whereas male grafts applied after primary female grafts were not. In addition, C57BL/10 female spleen cells, primed in vivo with an allogeneic (BALB/c, CBA, or B10.BR) male graft and challenged in vitro in mixed lymphocyte culture with syngeneic (C57BL/10) male cells, produced cytotoxic cells specific for syngeneic male target cells. We conclude that at least some component of H-Y is detected by female responder cells on allogeneic male cells, and that the second set cell mediated response to H-Y is not necessarily restricted by the H-2 haplotype of the primary sensitizing strain. Moreover, (CBA X B10) F1 females, primed in vivo with male cells of one parental haplotype (B10 or CBA) and challenged in vitro with male cells of the other parental haplotype (CBA or B10), fail to lyse male target cells of either parental haplotype. It therefore seems unlikely that a helper determinant shared between B10 and CBA is sufficient to explain the ability of CBA male cells to prime H-2-restricted T-cell cytotoxic responses by B10 females.

ZAP-70 binding specificity to T cell receptor tyrosine-based activation motifs: the tandem SH2 domains of ZAP-70 bind distinct tyrosine-based activation motifs with varying affinity.

Engagement of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) results in activation of several tyrosine kinases leading to tyrosine phosphorylation of protein substrates and activation of multiple biochemical pathways. TCR-mediated activation of the src-family kinases, Lck and Fyn, results in tyrosine phosphorylation of the TCR zeta and CD3 chains. The site of phosphorylation in these chains is the tyrosine-based activation motif (TAM), a 15-16 amino acid module containing two tyrosine residues. Tyrosine-phosphorylated TAMs serve as targets for binding of the zeta-associated protein (ZAP-70) tyrosine kinase via its tandem SH2 domains. This binding correlates with activation of ZAP-70, a critical event in T cell activation. To further define the structural requirements for ZAP-70 interaction with the TCR, we developed a binding assay using immobilized glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins containing the NH2- and/or COOH-terminal SH2 domains of ZAP-70, and soluble synthetic peptides with the sequence of the cytoplasmic region of the TCR zeta chain (TCR zeta cyt) or individual TCR zeta and CD3 epsilon TAM motifs. Direct binding studies demonstrated that the tandem ZAP-70 SH2 domains bind phosphorylated, but not nonphosphorylated, TCR zeta cyt. The NH2-terminal ZAP-70 SH2 domain also binds to TCR zeta cyt but with 100-fold lower affinity. No binding was observed with the COOH-terminal ZAP-70 SH2 domain. Similar studies demonstrated that the ZAP-70 tandem SH2 domain can bind a TCR zeta 3 TAM peptide in which both tyrosine residues are phosphorylated: Little or no binding was observed with peptides phosphorylated at only one tyrosine residue, or a nonphosphorylated peptide. Binding of the tandem SH2 domains to the other two TCR zeta TAM peptides and to a CD3 epsilon TAM peptide was also observed. All four doubly tyrosine phosphorylated TAM peptides cross-compete with each other for binding to the tandem SH2 domains of ZAP-70. The affinity of these peptides for the tandem SH2 construct demonstrated a hierarchy of TAM zeta 1 > or = TAM zeta 2 > TAM epsilon > or = TAM zeta 3. The results provide further evidence that the ZAP-70 interaction with the TCR requires prior phosphorylation of both tyrosine residues within a TAM motif. Binding of ZAP-70 to phospho-TAMs is notable for the high level of cooperativity between the two SH2 domains, which individually demonstrate low affinity interaction with the ligand. The cooperativity ensures higher affinity for the doubly phosphorylated ligand. Affinity differences of as much as 30-fold indicates a significant specificity of interaction of ZAP-70 SH2 domains for different phospho-TAMs.

Characterization of Cbl tyrosine phosphorylation and a Cbl-Syk complex in RBL-2H3 cells.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the Cbl protooncogene has been shown to occur after engagement of a number of different receptors on hematopoietic cells. However, the mechanisms by which these receptors induce Cbl tyrosine phosphorylation are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that engagement of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon R1) leads to the tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl and analyze how this occurs. We show that at least part of Fc epsilon R1-induced Cbl tyrosine phosphorylation is mediated by the Syk tyrosine kinase, and that the Syk-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl occurs mainly distal to the Cbl proline-rich region within the COOH-terminal 250 amino acids. Furthermore, we show by coprecipitation that Cbl is present in a complex with Syk before receptor engagement, that the proline-rich region of Cbl and a region of Syk comprised of the two SH2 domains and intradomain linker are required for formation of the complex, and that little or no tyrosine-phosphorylated Cbl is detected in complex with Syk. Overexpression of truncation mutants of Cbl capable of binding Syk has the effect of blocking tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous Cbl. These results define a potentially important intramolecular interaction in mast cells and suggest a complex function for Cbl in intracellular signaling pathways.

Knock-in mutation of the distal four tyrosines of linker for activation of T cells blocks murine T cell development.

The integral membrane adapter protein linker for activation of T cells (LAT) performs a critical function in T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signal transduction by coupling the TCR to downstream signaling pathways. After TCR engagement, LAT is tyrosine phosphorylated by ZAP-70 creating docking sites for multiple src homology 2-containing effector proteins. In the Jurkat T cell line, the distal four tyrosines of LAT bind PLCgamma-1, Grb2, and Gads. Mutation of these four tyrosine residues to phenylalanine (4YF) blocked TCR-mediated calcium mobilization, Erk activation, and nuclear factor (NF)-AT activation. In this study, we examined whether these four tyrosine residues were essential for T cell development by generating LAT "knock-in" mutant mice that express the 4YF mutant protein under the control of endogenous LAT regulatory sequences. Significantly, the phenotype of 4YF knock-in mice was identical to LAT(-/)- (null) mice; thymocyte development was arrested at the immature CD4(-)CD8(-) stage and no mature T cells were present. Knock-in mice expressing wild-type LAT protein, generated by a similar strategy, displayed a normal T cell developmental profile. These results demonstrate that the distal four tyrosine residues of LAT are essential for preTCR signaling and T cell development in vivo.

Regulation of ZAP-70 intracellular localization: visualization with the green fluorescent protein.

To investigate the cellular dynamics of ZAP-70, we have studied the distribution and regulation of its intracellular location using a ZAP-70 green fluorescent protein chimera. Initial experiments in epithelial cells indicated that ZAP-70 is diffusely located throughout the quiescent cell, and accumulates at the plasma membrane upon cellular activation, a phenotype enhanced by the coexpression of Lck and the initiation of ZAP-70 kinase activity. Subsequent studies in T cells confirmed this phenotype. Intriguingly, a large amount of ZAP-70, both chimeric and endogenous, resides in the nucleus of quiescent and activated cells. Nuclear ZAP-70 becomes tyrosine phosphorylated upon stimulation via the T cell receptor, indicating that it may have an important biologic function.

Regulation of T cell receptor expression in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by p56lck tyrosine kinase: basis for differential signaling by CD4 and CD8 in immature thymocytes expressing both coreceptor molecules.

Signals transduced through the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) are modulated by the src family tyrosine kinase p56lck (lck), which associates in mature T cells with the coreceptor molecules CD4 and CD8. Here we describe a novel function of lck in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, that of regulating TCR expression. Activation of lck in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by intrathymic engagement of CD4 maintains low TCR expression by causing most TCR components to be retained and degraded within the endoplasmic reticulum. Importantly, activation of lck in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes results from engagement of surface CD4 molecules, but not surface CD8 molecules, despite the nearly fourfold greater surface expression of CD8 than CD4. The competence of CD4 to activate lck in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes relates to the fact that a relatively large fraction of surface CD4 molecules (25-50%) are associated with intracellular lck molecules, whereas only 2% of surface CD8 molecules are associated with lck. The amount of lck associated with CD4 in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is diminished by chronic CD4 engagement in the thymus, as activated lck molecules subsequently dissociate from CD4. Indeed, the amount of lck associated with CD4 in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is markedly increased in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II- mice that lack the intrathymic ligand for CD4 and in which surface CD4 molecules are consequently not engaged. Thus, the present study demonstrates that (a) activation of lck in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes regulates distribution and expression of TCR components; (b) unlike CD4 molecules, CD8 molecules on CD4+CD8+ thymocytes cannot efficiently activate lck despite their significantly greater surface expression; and (c) the amount of lck associated with CD4 in the CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is inversely related to the extent of CD4 engagement by MHC class II molecules in the thymus.

T and B cells that recognize the same antigen do not transcribe similar heavy chain variable region gene segments.

We have attempted to determine whether T cells and B cells that have the same antigenic specificity and whose receptors share idiotypic determinants in fact express similar VH gene segments. To do this, we have obtained and characterized a cDNA clone containing the entire coding sequence for the VH gene from a glutamic acid60/alanine30/tyrosine10 (GAT)-binding immunoglobulin that carries the CGAT idiotype. The GAT-VH clone was hybridized to Northern blots of GAT-specific T cell RNAs; there was no evidence of a T cell transcript that hybridized to the GAT-VH probe. The T cells analyzed included: (a) 10 GAT-binding suppressor T cell hybridomas, 6 of which secreted factors with CGAT idiotypic determinants, (b) one GAT-specific helper T cell hybridoma, and (c) two GAT-specific helper T cell lines grown in the absence of feeder cells. The detection limit of the Northern blot analysis was 1-2 copies of a particular mRNA species per cell for the hybridomas and 5-10 copies per cell for the T cell lines. Therefore, we conclude that T and B lymphocytes responding to GAT do not utilize similar VH gene segments. Furthermore, the presence of idiotypic determinants on T lymphocytes does not necessarily imply close structural similarity between T and B cell antigen receptors.

ZAP-70 association with T cell receptor zeta (TCRzeta): fluorescence imaging of dynamic changes upon cellular stimulation.

The nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 is a critical enzyme required for successful T lymphocyte activation. After antigenic stimulation, ZAP-70 rapidly associates with T cell receptor (TCR) subunits. The kinetics of its translocation to the cell surface, the properties of its specific interaction with the TCRzeta chain expressed as a chimeric protein (TTzeta and Tzetazeta), and its mobility in different intracellular compartments were studied in individual live HeLa cells, using ZAP-70 and Tzetazeta fused to green fluorescent protein (ZAP-70 GFP and Tzetazeta-GFP, respectively). Time-lapse imaging using confocal microscopy indicated that the activation-induced redistribution of ZAP-70 to the plasma membrane, after a delayed onset, is of long duration. The presence of the TCRzeta chain is critical for the redistribution, which is enhanced when an active form of the protein tyrosine kinase Lck is coexpressed. Binding specificity to TTzeta was indicated using mutant ZAP-70 GFPs and a truncated zeta chimera. Photobleaching techniques revealed that ZAP-70 GFP has decreased mobility at the plasma membrane, in contrast to its rapid mobility in the cytosol and nucleus. Tzetazeta- GFP is relatively immobile, while peripherally located ZAP-70 in stimulated cells is less mobile than cytosolic ZAP-70 in unstimulated cells, a phenotype confirmed by determining the respective diffusion constants. Examination of the specific molecular association of signaling proteins using these approaches has provided new insights into the TCRzeta-ZAP-70 interaction and will be a powerful tool for continuing studies of lymphocyte activation.

The product of the proto-oncogene c-cbl: a negative regulator of the Syk tyrosine kinase.

Engagement of antigen and immunoglobulin receptors on hematopoietic cells is directly coupled to activation of nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) that then phosphorylate critical intracellular substrates. In mast cells stimulated through the FcvarepsilonRI receptor, activation of several PTKs including Syk leads to degranulation and release of such mediators of the allergic response as histamine and serotonin. Regulation of Syk function occurred through interaction with the Cbl protein, itself a PTK substrate in this system. Overexpression of Cbl led to inhibition of Syk and suppression of serotonin release from mast cells, demonstrating its ability to inhibit a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase. Complex adaptor proteins such as Cbl can directly regulate the functions of the proteins they bind.

Zeta phosphorylation without ZAP-70 activation induced by TCR antagonists or partial agonists.

Small changes in the peptide-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule ligands recognized by antigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) can convert fully activating complexes into partially activating or even inhibitory ones. This study examined early TCR-dependent signals induced by such partial agonists or antagonists. In contrast to typical agonist ligands, both an antagonist and several partial agonists stimulated a distinct pattern of zeta chain phosphorylation and failed to activate associated ZAP-70 kinase. These results identify a specific step in the early tyrosine phosphorylation cascade that is altered after TCR engagement with modified peptide-MHC molecule complexes. This finding may explain the different biological responses to TCR occupancy by these variant ligands.

T cell CD3-zeta eta heterodimer expression and coupling to phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

The T cell antigen receptor consists of an antigen-binding heterodimer that is noncovalently associated with at least five CD3 subunits (gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, and eta). The CD3-zeta chains are either disulfide-linked homodimers (CD3-zeta 2) or disulfide-linked heterodimers with eta (CD3-zeta eta). Variants of a murine antigen-specific T cell hybridoma that express normal amounts of CD3-zeta 2 but decreased amounts of CD3-zeta eta were isolated. When activated, the parental cell line increased both phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis and serine-specific protein kinase activity to a much greater extent than the variants. In contrast, the activation of a tyrosine-specific kinase after stimulation with a cross-linking antibody to CD3 was similar among these cells. There was a positive linear relation between the expression of CD3-zeta eta and phosphoinositide hydrolysis stimulated by the TCR, suggesting a differential coupling of the T cell alpha beta heterodimer to signal transduction mechanisms due to alpha beta association with either CD3-zeta 2 or CD3-zeta eta.

Molecular cloning of the zeta chain of the T cell antigen receptor.

The T cell antigen receptor is a multi-subunit receptor complex present on the surface of all mature and many developing T cells. It consists of clonotypic heterodimers noncovalently linked to five invariant chains that are encoded by four genes and referred to as the CD3 complex. The CD3 gamma, delta, and epsilon chains have been molecularly characterized. In this report the molecular cloning of a complementary DNA encoding the zeta chain of the murine T cell antigen receptor is described. The predicted protein sequence of the zeta chain suggests a structure distinct from those of any of the previously described receptor subunits.

Participation of tyrosine phosphorylation in the cytopathic effect of human immunodeficiency virus-1.

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is a common mechanism of signaling in pathways that regulate T cell receptor-mediated cell activation, cell proliferation, and the cell cycle. Because human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is though to affect normal cell signaling, tyrosine phosphorylation may be associated with HIV cytopathicity. In both HIV-infected cells and transfected cells that stably express HIV envelope glycoproteins undergoing HIVgp41-induced cell fusion, a 30-kilodalton protein was phosphorylated on tyrosine with kinetics similar to those of syncytium formation and cell death. When tyrosine phosphorylation was inhibited by the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A, envelope-mediated syncytium formation was coordinately reduced. These studies show that specific intracellular signals, which apparently participate in cytopathicity, are generated by HIV and suggest strategies by which the fusion process might be interrupted.

Molecular basis of T cell inactivation by CTLA-4.

CTLA-4, a negative regulator of T cell function, was found to associate with the T cell receptor (TCR) complex zeta chain in primary T cells. The association of TCRzeta with CTLA-4, reconstituted in 293 transfectants, was enhanced by p56(lck)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Coexpression of the CTLA-4-associated tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, resulted in dephosphorylation of TCRzeta bound to CTLA-4 and abolished the p56(lck)-inducible TCRzeta-CTLA-4 interaction. Thus, CTLA-4 inhibits TCR signal transduction by binding to TCRzeta and inhibiting tyrosine phosphorylation after T cell activation. These findings have broad implications for the negative regulation of T cell function and T cell tolerance.

Inhibition of T cell receptor expression and function in immature CD4+CD8+ cells by CD4.

Most immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes express only a small number of T cell receptor (TCR) molecules on their surface, and the TCR molecules they do express are only marginally capable of transducing intracellular signals. TCR expression and function was not intrinsically low in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, but was found to be actively inhibited by CD4-mediated signals. Indeed, release of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes from CD4-mediated signals resulted in significant increases in both TCR expression and signaling function. These results suggest that, in CD4+CD8+ cells developing in the thymus, increased TCR expression and function requires release from CD4-mediated inhibition.