T cell antigen receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C requires tyrosine phosphorylation.

Triggering of the antigen-specific T cell receptor-CD3 complex (TCR-CD3) stimulates a rapid phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids, resulting in the production of second messengers and in T cell activation and proliferation. The role of tyrosine phosphorylation in these events was investigated with a tyrosine protein kinase (TPK) inhibitor, genistein. At doses that inhibited TPK activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of the TCR zeta subunit, but not phospholipase C activity, genistein prevented TCR-CD3-mediated phospholipase C activation, interleukin-2 receptor expression, and T cell proliferation. These findings indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation is an early and critical event that most likely precedes, and is a prerequisite for, inositol phospholipid breakdown during receptor-mediated T cell activation.

Tyrosine kinase-stimulated guanine nucleotide exchange activity of Vav in T cell activation.

The hematopoietically expressed product of the vav proto-oncogene, Vav, shared homology with guanine nucleotide releasing factors (GRFs) [also called guanosine diphosphate-dissociation stimulators (GDSs)] that activate Ras-related small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins. Human T cell lysates or Vav immunoprecipitates possessed GRF activity that increased after T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-CD3 triggering; an in vitro-translated Vav fragment that contained the putative GRF domain was also active. Vav-associated GRF stimulation after TCR-CD3 ligation paralleled its tyrosine phosphorylation; both were blocked by a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor. Vav also was a substrate for the p56lck PTK. Thus, Vav is a PTK-regulated GRF that may be important in TCR-CD3-initiated signal transduction through the activation of Ras.

Inhibitory signaling by B cell Fc gamma RIIb.

The fact that B cells undergo feedback suppression, or negative signaling, through the interaction of secreted antibody with specific antigen has been extensively documented but the mechanisms involved in the process have been elusive. Experiments over the past year using B cell deletion mutants and dominant-negative enzymes have firmly established an important role for SH2-domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase (SHIP) in negative signaling. Negative signaling through SHIP appears to inhibit the Ras pathway through SH2 domain competition with Grb2 and Shc and may involve consumption of intracellular lipid mediators that act as allosteric enzyme activators or that promote entry of extracellular Ca2+.

Visualization of negative signaling in B cells by quantitative confocal microscopy.

Numerous biochemical experiments have invoked a model in which B-cell antigen receptor (BCR)-Fc receptor for immunoglobulin (Ig) G (FcgammaRII) coclustering provides a dominant negative signal that blocks B-cell activation. Here, we tested this model using quantitative confocal microscopic techniques applied to ex vivo splenic B cells. We found that FcgammaRII and BCR colocalized with intact anti-Ig and that the SH2 domain-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase (SHIP) was recruited to the same site. Colocalization of BCR and SHIP was inefficient in FcgammaRII-/- but not gamma chain-/- splenic B cells. We also examined the subcellular location of a variety of enzymes and adapter proteins involved in signal transduction. Several proteins (CD19, CD22, SHP-1, and Dok) and a lipid raft marker were co-recruited to the BCR, regardless of the presence or absence of FcgammaRII and SHIP. Other proteins (Btk, Vav, Rac, and F-actin) displayed reduced colocalization with BCR in the presence of FcgammaRII and SHIP. Colocalization of BCR and F-actin required phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase and was inhibited by SHIP, because the block in BCR/F-actin colocalization was not seen in B cells of SHIP-/- animals. Furthermore, BCR internalization was inhibited with intact anti-Ig stimulation or by expression of a dominant-negative mutant form of Rac. From these results, we propose that SHIP recruitment to BCR/FcgammaRII and the resulting hydrolysis of PtdIns-3,4,5-trisphosphate prevents the appropriate spatial redistribution and activation of enzymes distal to PtdIns 3-kinase, including those that promote Rac activation, actin polymerization, and receptor internalization.

Recruitment and phosphorylation of SH2-containing inositol phosphatase and Shc to the B-cell Fc gamma immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif peptide motif.

Recently, we and others have demonstrated that negative signaling in B cells selectively induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of a novel inositol polyphosphate phosphatase, p145SHIP. In this study, we present data indicating that p145SHIP binds directly a phosphorylated motif, immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM), present in the cytoplasmic domain of Fc gammaRIIB1. Using recombinant SH2 domains, we show that binding is mediated via the Src homology region 2 (SH2)-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP) SH2 domain. SHIP also bound to a phosphopeptide derived from CD22, raising the possibility that SHIP contributes to negative signaling by this receptor as well as Fc gammaRIIB1. The association of SHIP with the ITIM phosphopeptide was activation independent, while coassociation with Shc was activation dependent. Furthermore, experiments with Fc gammaRIIB1-deficient B cells demonstrated a genetic requirement for expression of Fc gammaRIIB1 in the induction of SHIP phosphorylation and its interaction with Shc. Based on these results, we propose a model of negative signaling in which co-cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin and Fc gammaRIIB1 results in sequential tyrosine phosphorylation of the ITIM, recruitment and phosphorylation of p145SHIP, and subsequent binding of Shc.

Mapping of sites on the Src family protein tyrosine kinases p55blk, p59fyn, and p56lyn which interact with the effector molecules phospholipase C-gamma 2, microtubule-associated protein kinase, GTPase-activating protein, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Engagement of the B-cell antigen receptor complex induces immediate activation of receptor-associated Src family tyrosine kinases including p55blk, p59fyn, p53/56lyn, and perhaps p56lck, and this response is accompanied by tyrosine phosphorylation of distinct cellular substrates. These kinases act directly or indirectly to phosphorylate and/or activate effector proteins including p42 (microtubule-associated protein kinase) (MAPK), phospholipases C-gamma 1 (PLC gamma 1) and C-gamma 2 (PLC gamma 2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K), and p21ras-GTPase-activating protein (GAP). Although coimmunoprecipitation results indicate that the Src family protein tyrosine kinases interact physically with some of these effector molecules, the molecular basis of this interaction has not been established. Here, we show that three distinct sites mediate the interaction of these kinases with effectors. The amino-terminal 27 residues of the unique domain of p56lyn mediate association with PLC gamma 2, MAPK, and GAP. Binding to PI 3-K is mediated through the Src homology 3 (SH3) domains of the Src family kinases. Relatively small proportions of cellular PI 3-K, PLC gamma 2, MAPK, and GAP, presumably those which are tyrosine phosphorylated, bind to the SH2 domains of these kinases. Comparative analysis of binding activities of Blk, Lyn, and Fyn shows that these kinases differ in their abilities to associate with MAPK and PI 3-K, suggesting that they may preferentially bind and subsequently phosphorylate distinct sets of downstream effector molecules in vivo. Fast protein liquid chromatography Mono Q column-fractionated MAPK maintains the ability to bind bacterially expressed Lyn, suggesting that the two kinases may interact directly.

Activation of Ras in vitro and in intact fibroblasts by the Vav guanine nucleotide exchange protein.

We recently identified Vav, the product of the vav proto-oncogene, as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Ras. Vav is enzymatically activated by lymphocyte antigen receptor-coupled protein tyrosine kinases or independently by diglycerides. To further evaluate the physiological role of Vav, we assessed its GDP-GTP exchange activity against several Ras-related proteins in vitro and determined whether Vav activation in transfected NIH 3T3 fibroblasts correlates with the activity status of Ras and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. In vitro translated purified Vav activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or phosphorylation with recombinant p56lck displayed GEF activity against Ras but not against recombinant RacI, RacII, Ral, or RhoA proteins. Expression of vav or proto-vav in stably transfected NIH 3T3 cells led to a approximately 10-fold increase in basal or PMA-stimulated Ras exchange activity, respectively, in total-cell lysates and Vav immunoprecipitates. Elevated GEF activity was paralleled in each case by a significant increase in the proportion of active, GTP-bound Ras. PMA had a minimal effect on the low Ras. GTP level in untransfected control fibroblasts but increased it from 20 to 37% in proto-vav-transfected cells. vav-transfected cells displayed a constitutively elevated Ras. GTP level (35%), which was not increased further by PMA treatment. MAP kinases, known downstream intermediates in Ras-dependent signaling pathways, similarly exhibited increased basal or PMA-stimulated activity in Vav-expressing cells by comparison with normal NIH 3T3 cells. These results demonstrate a physiologic interaction between Vav and its target, Ras, leading to MAP kinase activation.

Direct stimulation of Vav guanine nucleotide exchange activity for Ras by phorbol esters and diglycerides.

We recently identified Vav as a Ras-activating guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) stimulated by a T-cell antigen receptor-coupled protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Here, we describe a novel, protein kinase-independent alternative pathway of Vav activation. Phorbol ester, 1,2-diacylglycerol, or ceramide treatment of intact T cells, Vav immunoprecipitates, or partially purified Vav generated by in vitro translation or COS-1 cell transfection stimulated the Ras exchange activity of Vav in the absence of detectable tyrosine phosphorylation. GEF activity of gel-purified Vav was similarly stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Stimulation was resistant to PTK and protein kinase C inhibitors but was blocked by calphostin, a PMA and diacylglycerol antagonist. In vitro-translated Vav lacking its cysteine-rich domain, or mutated at a single cysteine residue within this domain (C528A), was not stimulated by PMA but was fully activated by p56lck. This correlated with increased binding of radiolabeled phorbol ester to COS-1 cells expressing wild-type, but not C528A-mutated, Vav. Thus, Vav itself is a PMA-binding and -activated Ras GEF. Recombinant interleukin-1 alpha stimulated Vav via this pathway, suggesting that diglyceride-mediated Vav activation may couple PTK-independent receptors which stimulate production of lipid second messengers to Ras in hematopoietic cells.

Activation of Src-family tyrosine kinases during Fas-induced apoptosis.

Stimulation of several human and murine hematopoietically derived cell lines with anti-Fas antibodies induced increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a panel of proteins observed in whole-cell lysates. In the human T cell line Jurkat, the activity of a 56-kDa tyrosine kinase was likewise activated by anti-Fas antibodies. Immunoprecipitation studies of anti-Fas-stimulated human Jurkat and murine 2B4.11 T cells revealed activation of the Src-family tyrosine kinases Lck and Fyn. Fas receptor-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p120 c-cbl proto-oncogene product was observed in Jurkat T cells. Pharmacological experiments demonstrated that pretreatment of Jurkat cells with tyrphostins inhibited Fas-induced apoptosis; likewise, Lck activity was inhibited by tyrphostins in a dose-dependent fashion. Finally, Lck derived from unstimulated Jurkat T cells formed stable complexes with the intracellular domain of the Fas receptor. These data are consistent with the notion that expression and activation of members of the Src-family kinases is required for Fas-induced cell death in T lymphocytes and consistent with recent findings demonstrating decreased Fas-mediated thymocytic death in Fyn-knockout mice.

How do inhibitory phosphatases work?

We present a hypothesis regarding the mode of induction of the inhibitory phosphatases SHP-1 and SHIP in hematopoietic cells. One mode is a general one in which the phosphatase regulates but does not abort signal transduction and biology. Regulator phosphatases are induced by directly or indirectly engaging the amino acid motifs present in the activating receptor, and act to control the biochemical and biological output. The other mode of induction is a specific one, which critically involves paired co-clustering of activating and inhibitory receptors. Phosphatases working in this way act only under conditions of paired co-clustering of activating and inhibitory receptors, and directly bind amino acid motifs present in the inhibitory receptor. However, this mode of induction is apparently more efficient, as cellular activation is completely aborted. This review presents several examples of each mode of inhibition and speculates on their mechanisms.

Role of SHIP in FcgammaRIIb-mediated inhibition of Ras activation in B cells.

Previous studies by our lab and others established that co-crosslinking sIg and IgG receptor FcgammaRIIb in B cells in a feedback suppression model (negative signaling) promoted tyrosine phosphorylation of the inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP and its interaction with Shc and that these events were associated with inhibition of the Ras pathway. We therefore hypothesized a competition model in which the SH2 domain of SHIP competes with that of Grb2 for binding to phospho-Shc to inhibit the Ras pathway. Here, we provide evidence consistent with this hypothesis. First, FcgammaRIIb-deficient B cells, which do not undergo SHIP tyrosine phosphorylation nor interaction with Shc, displayed an active Ras pathway under negative signaling conditions; reconstitution of FcgammaRIIb expression restored the block in Ras. Second, under conditions of negative signaling leading to SHIP-Shc interaction in wild-type B cells, we observed a profound reduction in the activation-induced association of Grb2 to Sos. Experiments reported here and elsewhere revealed the Grb2-Sos interaction required the engagement of the Grb2 SH2 domain by phospho-Shc. Third, we demonstrated that phospho-Shc cannot concomitantly bind Grb2 and SHIP, indicating that the two proteins competed for the same phospho-tyrosine residue on Shc. These data are consistent with the proposed competition model, and further indicate that the activation induced Grb2-Sos association is rate limiting for Ras activation.

Construction and characterization of lck- and fyn-specific tRNA: ribozyme chimeras.

Two src-family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), p56lck, and p59fyn, are thought to play an important role in the antigen-specific T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3-initiated signaling pathway, but their relative contribution to these events is not clearly defined. Here, we have explored the potential of catalytic RNA molecules, or ribozymes, as tools for selectively inhibiting expression of the corresponding target genes in T cells. Several lck- or fyn-specific hammerhead ribozymes were synthesized, cloned into a bacterial transcription vector, and found to display specific catalytic activity in vitro. In order to achieve stable high-level ribozyme expression in intact cells, selected ribozymes were subsequently cloned into a retroviral vector (DC-T5T) immediately downstream of a tRNA(met) transcription unit. Upon retroviral transduction of a human leukemic T cell line (Jurkat), two out of four chimeric tRNA:ribozymes, fyn-1 and lck-1, were stably expressed at levels of approximately 10,000 or approximately 25,000 copies/cell, respectively. Ribozyme expression was associated with a reduction of up to 80% (lck) or 61% (fyn) in endogenous target mRNA by comparison to the corresponding transcript levels in control clones transfected with vector alone. By contrast, expression of the corresponding target proteins was not reduced, suggesting a post-transcriptional compensatory mechanism that increases translation or stability of the p56lck and/or p59fyn proteins.

Negative signaling in health and disease.

Signal transduction induced by receptors can elicit intracellular biochemical events that either support or inhibit cell activation. Induction of the latter has been termed "negative signaling" and can be triggered by receptors on immune cells that are distinct from activating receptors while other growth-promoting receptors induce both positive and negative signaling events. Here, the biochemistry leading to cell activation or inhibition and induced by receptors on immune cells are reviewed. Furthermore, recent experimental evidence is reviewed that indicates an important contribution of negative signaling to the intracellular survival of infectious pathogens.

The role of p56lck in CD4-mediated suppression of CD3-induced early signaling events in T lymphocytes.

Crosslinking of the CD4 coreceptor can inhibit subsequent T-cell activation via the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex. The ability of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope protein, gp 120, to cause similar inhibition has implicated this inhibitory signal in the induction of T-cell anergy and apoptosis observed in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In order to clarify the biochemical basis of this inhibition, we analyzed the effect of CD4 ligation on early signaling events induced by subsequent CD3xCD4 co-crosslinking. By comparison with CD3 crosslinking alone, CD3xCD4 co-crosslinking of a CD3+CD4+ human T-cell leukemia line (SupT1) resulted in an enhanced increase in free intracellular calcium concentration and tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular substrates, including the prominent phosphorylation of an unidentified 120-kDa protein (p120). Prior CD4 ligation inhibited these responses. Similar results were obtained with A3.01, another CD3+CD4+ T leukemic line. However, P120 was only minor phosphorylated on tyrosine upon receptor crosslinking in A2.01/CD4(-cyt401), a derivative line expressing a truncated CD4 coreceptor lacking its cytoplasmic domain which binds the p56lck protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Furthermore, prior CD4 ligation failed to inhibit in this line the increased tyrosine phosphorylation induced by subsequent CD3xCD4 co-crosslinking. Thus, prior CD4 crosslinking, or expression of truncated CD4, are both associated with reduced p120 phosphorylation. These results suggest that p120 is a p56lck substrate playing an important role during T-cell activation.

GM1 inhibits early signaling events mediated by PDGF receptor in cultured human glioma cells.

Binding of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF) to its receptor (PDGFR) activates its receptor tyrosine kinase which autophosphorylates tyrosine residues. The p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) binds to specific phosphotyrosines on PDGFR-beta and through the associated p110 catalytic subunit of PI 3-kinase catalyzes the formation of lipids that are involved in intracellular signaling. We examined if GM1 affects interactions between PDGFR-beta and specific proteins involved in PDGFR-mediated signaling. U-1242 MG cells were studied under different growth conditions using immunoprecipitation and Western Blot analysis. PDGF-stimulated the association of PDGFR-beta with p85, ras GTPase-activating protein and PLC gamma. GM1 decreased these associations in parallel with decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGFR. PDGF augmented the activity of PI 3-kinase associated with PDGFR-beta, and this was attenuated by GM1. However, GM1 did not alter SH2 domains of p85. GM1 probably inhibits PDGF-induced signaling proteins with PDGFR-beta by inhibiting phosphorylation of specific tyrosines on the receptor which bind to SH2-domains on signaling proteins.