B- and T-Lymphocyte Attenuator in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Pathogenesis.

B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA; CD272) is an immunoglobulin superfamily member and part of a family of checkpoint inhibitory receptors that negatively regulate immune cell activation. The natural ligand for BTLA is herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM; TNFRSF14), and binding of HVEM to BTLA leads to attenuation of lymphocyte activation. In this study, we evaluated the role of BTLA and HVEM expression in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a multisystem autoimmune disease. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers (N = 7) were evaluated by mass cytometry by time-of-flight to establish baseline expression of BTLA and HVEM on human lymphocytes compared with patients with SLE during a self-reported flare (N = 5). High levels of BTLA protein were observed on B cells, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in healthy participants. HVEM protein levels were lower in patients with SLE compared with healthy participants, while BTLA levels were similar between SLE and healthy groups. Correlations of BTLA-HVEM hub genes' expression with patient and disease characteristics were also analyzed using whole blood gene expression data from patients with SLE (N = 1,760) and compared with healthy participants (N = 60). HVEM, being one of the SLE-associated genes, showed an exceptionally strong negative association with disease activity. Several other genes in the BTLA-HVEM signaling network were strongly (negative or positive) correlated, while BTLA had a low association with disease activity. Collectively, these data provide a clinical rationale for targeting BTLA with an agonist in SLE patients with low HVEM expression.

LUZ-Y, a novel platform for the mammalian cell production of full-length IgG-bispecific antibodies.

The ability of bispecific antibodies to simultaneously bind two unique antigens has great clinical potential. However, most approaches utilized to generate bispecific antibodies yield antibody-like structures that diverge significantly from the structure of archetype human IgG, and those that do approach structural similarity to native antibodies are often challenging to engineer and manufacture. Here, we present a novel platform for the mammalian cell production of bispecific antibodies that differ from their parental mAbs by only a single point mutation per heavy chain. Central to this platform is the addition of a leucine zipper to the C terminus of the C(H)3 domain of the antibody that is sufficient to drive the heterodimeric assembly of antibody heavy chains and can be readily removed post-purification. Using this approach, we developed various antibody constructs including one-armed Abs, bispecific antibodies that utilize a common light chain, and bispecific antibodies that pair light chains to their cognate heavy chains via peptide tethers. We have applied this technology to various antibody pairings and will demonstrate the engineering, purification, and biological activity of these antibodies herein.

Epitope topography of agonist antibodies to the checkpoint inhibitory receptor BTLA.

B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is an attractive target for a new class of therapeutics that attempt to rebalance the immune system by agonizing checkpoint inhibitory receptors (CIRs). Herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) binds BTLA in both trans- and cis-orientations. We report here the development and structural characterization of three humanized BTLA agonist antibodies, 22B3, 25F7, and 23C8. We determined the crystal structures of the antibody-BTLA complexes, showing that these antibodies bind distinct and non-overlapping epitopes of BTLA. While all three antibodies activate BTLA, 22B3 mimics HVEM binding to BTLA and shows the strongest agonistic activity in functional cell assays and in an imiquimod-induced mouse model of psoriasis. 22B3 is also capable of modulating HVEM signaling through the BTLA-HVEM cis-interaction. The data obtained from crystal structures, biochemical assays, and functional studies provide a mechanistic model of HVEM and BTLA organization on the cell surface and informed the discovery of a highly active BTLA agonist.

B and T lymphocyte attenuator regulates B cell receptor signaling by targeting Syk and BLNK.

B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) functions as a negative regulator of T cell activation and proliferation. Although the role of BTLA in regulating T cell responses has been characterized, a thorough investigation into the precise molecular mechanisms involved in BTLA-mediated lymphocyte attenuation and, more specifically, its role in regulating B cell activation has not been presented. In this study, we have begun to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms by which BTLA functions to inhibit B cell activation. We describe the cell surface expression of BTLA on various human B cell subsets and confirm its ability to attenuate B cell proliferation upon associating with its known ligand, herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM). BTLA associates with the BCR and, upon binding to HVEM, recruits the tyrosine phosphatase Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 and reduces activation of signaling molecules downstream of the BCR. This is exemplified by a quantifiable decrease in tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein tyrosine kinase Syk, as measured by absolute quantification mass spectrometry. Furthermore, effector molecules downstream of BCR signaling, including the B cell linker protein, phospholipase Cgamma2, and NF-kappaB, display decreased activation and nuclear translocation, respectively, after BTLA activation by HVEM. These results begin to provide insight into the mechanism by which BTLA negatively regulates B cell activation and indicates that BTLA is an inhibitory coreceptor of the BCR signaling pathway and attenuates B cell activation by targeting the downstream signaling molecules Syk and B cell linker protein.

Alternative splicing of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel beta4 subunit creates a uniquely folded N-terminal protein binding domain with cell-specific expression in the cerebellar cortex.

Ca2+ channel beta subunits regulate cell-surface expression and gating of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel alpha1 subunits. Based on primary sequence comparisons, beta subunits are predicted to be modular structures composed of five domains (A-E) that are related to the large family of membrane-associated guanylate kinase proteins. The crystal structure of the beta subunit core B-D domains has been reported recently; however, little is known about the structures of the A and E domains. The N-terminal A domain differs among the four subtypes of Ca2+ channel beta subunits (beta1-beta4) primarily as the result of two duplications of an ancestral gene containing multiple alternatively spliced exons. At least nine A domain sequences can be generated by alternative splicing. In this report, we focus on one A domain sequence, the highly conserved beta4a A domain. We solved its three-dimensional structure and show that it is expressed in punctate structures throughout the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex. We also demonstrate that it does not participate directly in Cav2.1 Ca2+ channel gating but serves as a binding site in protein-protein interactions with synaptotagmin I and the LC2 domain of microtubule-associated protein 1A. With respect to beta4 subunits, the interactions are specific for the beta4a splice variant, because they do not occur with the beta4b A domain. These results have strong bearing on our current understanding of the structure of alternatively spliced Ca2+ channel beta subunits and the cell-specific roles they play in the CNS.

Solution structure of the N-terminal A domain of the human voltage-gated Ca2+channel beta4a subunit.

Ca2+ channel beta subunits regulate trafficking and gating (opening and closing) of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel alpha1 subunits. Based on primary sequence comparisons, they are thought to be modular structures composed of five domains (A-E) that are related to the large family of membrane associated guanylate-kinase (MAGUK) proteins. The crystal structures of the beta subunit core, B-D, domains have recently been reported; however, very little is known about the structures of the A and E domains. The N-terminal A domain is a hypervariable region that differs among the four subtypes of Ca2+ channel beta subunits (beta1-beta4). Furthermore, this domain undergoes alternative splicing to create multiple N-terminal structures within a given gene class that have distinct effects on gating. We have solved the solution structure of the A domain of the human beta4a subunit, a splice variant that we have shown previously to have alpha1 subunit subtype-specific effects on Ca2+ channel trafficking and gating.

Molecular recognition of the human coactivator CBP by the HIV-1 transcriptional activator Tat.

HIV-1 Tat is required for the expression of the viral genome. Tat binds to an RNA stem-loop and mediates the recruitment of human coactivators to facilitate HIV-1 transcription. The coactivator and acetyltransferase CREB binding protein (CBP), and the paralog p300, are recruited to the HIV-1 promoter by Tat. Here we identify the interacting domains of Tat and CBP. Circular dichroism and pulldown assays show that full-length Tat binds to the KIX domain of CBP, but not to the C/H1 or CR2 domains. Circular dichroism and NMR studies of Tat deletion mutants localize the KIX-binding domain of Tat to the N-terminal 24 residues of Tat. Transient cotransfections demonstrate that exogenous KIX behaves as a dominant negative to Tat-mediated transcription in human T-cells, suggesting that Tat and KIX interact in vivo. These findings indicate that Tat targets the KIX domain of CBP and provide insight into the molecular interactions involved in regulating HIV-1 gene expression.

NMR mapping of the HIV-1 Tat interaction surface of the KIX domain of the human coactivator CBP.

Tat is required for the expression of the HIV-1 genome. HIV-1 Tat interacts with the human transcriptional coactivator and acetyltransferase CREB-binding protein (CBP) via the KIX domain of CBP. Chemical shift perturbation mapping with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to identify the surface of human KIX that interacts with Tat. It was found that Tat binds to the c-Jun/MLL/Tax binding surface of KIX, as opposed to the CREB binding site. The results provide new insight into the molecular basis of the assembly of protein complexes involving p300/CBP and Tat during HIV gene expression.

KIX-mediated assembly of the CBP-CREB-HTLV-1 tax coactivator-activator complex.

The HTLV-1 transcriptional activator Tax is required for viral replication and pathogenesis. In concert with human CREB, Tax recruits the human transcriptional coactivator and histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP to the HTLV-1 promoter. Here we investigate the structural features of the interaction between Tax and the KIX domain of p300/CBP. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift perturbation mapping, and sedimentation equilibrium analysis show that KIX binds a Tax subdomain corresponding to residues 59-98 of Tax (called Tax(59-98)). Circular dichroism spectroscopy suggests that Tax(59-98) is intrinsically disordered (natively unfolded) in isolation and adopts an ordered conformation upon binding KIX. The interaction is disrupted by a single amino acid variation of Tax(59-98) in which leucine 68 is substituted with proline. Chemical shift perturbation mapping reveals that the Tax-binding surface of KIX is distinct from that utilized by CREB, and corresponds to the site of KIX that interacts with the human transcription factors c-Jun and mixed lineage leukemia protein (MLL). Sedimentation equilibrium analysis shows that Tax and the phosphorylated KID domain of CREB can simultaneously bind KIX to form a ternary 1:1:1 complex. The results provide a molecular description of the concerted recruitment of p300/CBP via the KIX domain by Tax and phosphorylated CREB during Tax-mediated gene expression.

Contribution to stability and folding of a buried polar residue at the CARM1 methylation site of the KIX domain of CBP.

The transcriptional coactivator and acetyltransferase CREB Binding Protein (CBP) is comprised of several autonomously folded and functionally independent domains. The KIX domain mediates interactions between CBP and numerous transcriptional activators. The folded region of KIX has all the structural features of a globular protein, including three alpha-helices, two short 3(10) helices, and a well-packed hydrophobic core. KIX contains a buried cation-pi interaction between the positively charged guanidinium group of Arg 600 and the aromatic ring of Tyr 640. Arg 600 is a site for regulatory methylation by CARM1/PRMT4, which negates the CREB-binding function of the KIX domain. The role of the Arg 600-Tyr 640 buried polar interaction in specifying and stabilizing the structure of KIX was investigated by comparing the folding of wild-type KIX with the single point mutants Y640F and R600M. The Y640F mutant disrupts a hydrogen bond involving the Tyr 640 OH and the backbone of V595 but still allows for the cation-pi interaction while the R600M mutant disrupts the cation-pi interaction. Both wild type KIX and Y640F exhibit properties expected of native like, globular proteins such as a single oligomerization state (monomer), cooperative thermal and urea-induced unfolding transitions, and a well-packed core. In contrast, the R600M mutant has properties reminiscent of a molten globule state, including a tendency to aggregate, noncooperative thermal unfolding transition, and a loosely packed core. Thus, the buried cation-pi interaction is critical for specifying the unique cooperatively folded structure of KIX.