Hsp90 recognizes a common surface on client kinases.

Hsp90 is a highly abundant chaperone whose clientele includes hundreds of cellular proteins, many of which are central players in key signal transduction pathways and the majority of which are protein kinases. In light of the variety of Hsp90 clientele, the mechanism of selectivity of the chaperone toward its client proteins is a major open question. Focusing on human kinases, we have demonstrated that the chaperone recognizes a common surface in the amino-terminal lobe of kinases from diverse families, including two newly identified clients, NFkappaB-inducing kinase and death-associated protein kinase, and the oncoprotein HER2/ErbB-2. Surface electrostatics determine the interaction with the Hsp90 chaperone complex such that introduction of a negative charge within this region disrupts recognition. Compiling information on the Hsp90 dependence of 105 protein kinases, including 16 kinases whose relationship to Hsp90 is first examined in this study, reveals that surface features, rather than a contiguous amino acid sequence, define the capacity of the Hsp90 chaperone machine to recognize client kinases. Analyzing Hsp90 regulation of two major signaling cascades, the mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, leads us to propose that the selectivity of the chaperone to specific kinases is functional, namely that Hsp90 controls kinases that function as hubs integrating multiple inputs. These lessons bear significance to pharmacological attempts to target the chaperone in human pathologies, such as cancer.

Eradication of B-CLL by autologous and allogeneic host nonreactive anti-third-party CTLs.

Establishment of cell lines capable of killing leukemia cells, in the absence of alloreactivity against normal host cells, represents a most desirable goal in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and cancer immunotherapy. By using a human --> mouse chimeric model, we demonstrate that allogeneic anti-third-party cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) depleted of alloreactivity are endowed with a potent anti-B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) reactivity. Likewise, CTL preparations generated from autologous T cells of the same patients with B-CLL exhibited comparable leukemia eradication, suggesting that the reactivity of allogeneic anti-third-party CTLs is not mediated by residual antihost clones. This specificity was also exhibited in vitro, and annexin staining revealed that B-CLL killing is mediated by apoptosis. While the CTLs killing of third-party cells could be blocked by anti-CD3 antibody, the lysis of the B-CLL cells was not inhibited by this antibody, suggesting a T-cell receptor (TCR)-independent cytotoxicity. The role of cell contact leading to apoptosis of B-CLL cells is shown in transwell plates and by anti-lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)-blocking antibody. Up-regulation of CD54 and the subsequent apoptosis of B-CLL cells depend on the initial LFA-1/ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) interaction. Taken together, these results suggest that allogeneic or autologous host nonreactive anti-third-party CTLs may represent a new therapeutic approach for patients with B-CLL.

Hsp90 restrains ErbB-2/HER2 signalling by limiting heterodimer formation.

ErbB-2/HER2 is an oncogenic tyrosine kinase that regulates a signalling network by forming ligand-induced heterodimers with several growth factor receptors of the ErbB family. Hsp90 and co-chaperones regulate degradation of ErbB-2 but not other ErbB members. Here, we report that the role of Hsp90 in modulating the ErbB network extends beyond regulation of protein stability. The capacity of ErbB-2 to recruit ligand-bound receptors into active heterodimers is limited by Hsp90, which is dissociated from ErbB-2 following ligand-induced heterodimerization. We show that Hsp90 binds a specific loop within the kinase domain of ErbB-2, thereby restraining heterodimer formation and catalytic function. These results define a role for Hsp90 as a molecular switch regulating the ErbB signalling network by limiting formation of ErbB-2-centred receptor complexes.

Tolerance induction by veto CTLs in the TCR transgenic 2C mouse model. I. Relative reactivity of different veto cells.

Several bone marrow cells and lymphocyte subpopulations, known as veto cells, were shown to induce transplantation tolerance across major histocompatibility Ags. Due to the low frequency of the effector T cells against which the veto cells inhibitory activity is aimed, the fate of the effector cells was traditionally followed indirectly by functional limiting dilution assays, which are cumbersome and depend on numerous parameters. In the present study the fate of the effector T cells was monitored directly by FACS, using TCR transgenic mouse CD8(+) T cells in which the transgene is directed against H-2(d) (the 2C model). This assay is validated by demonstrating the potency, selectivity, radiation sensitivity, and contact dependency of anti-third-party CTLs previously demonstrated by the limiting dilution assay. In contrast to veto CTLs, nonactivated CD8(+) T cells lack veto activity. Comparison by FACS in the 2C model revealed a hierarchy of veto cells, in the order of veto CTLs activated NK cells, activated CD4(+) T cells, and activated B cells. The latter cells as well as nonactivated CD4(+) or NK cells were shown to be completely devoid of veto activity.

Tolerance induction by veto CTLs in the TCR transgenic 2C mouse model. II. Deletion of effector cells by Fas-Fas ligand apoptosis.

The direct assay of veto CTLs in the 2C mouse model enables monitoring, by FACS, the fate of the TCR transgenic effector CD8(+) T cells, the transgene of which can be stained with clonotypic Ab 1B2. After the addition of veto cells, CD8(+)1B2(+) effector cells increasingly express annexin V, and maximal apoptosis is attained 72 h after initiation of MLR. This veto activity can be partially blocked by anti-CD8 Abs directed against the allele expressed by the veto CTLs, but not by the effector cells. When effector CD8(+) T cells were from 2C mice, which lack Fas expression ((2CX lpr)F(2)), deletion of effector cells was not exhibited by veto cells. The protein levels of the apoptosis inhibitors FLIP and Bcl2 in purified CD8(+)1B2(+) effector cells at different time points after MLR showed an initial up-regulation of these inhibitors, with marked reduction of FLIP, but not of Bcl2, by 48 h after initiation of culture. Taken together, these results are in accordance with a Fas-FasL-based mechanism in which prolonged binding between the effector cell and the veto cell might be required to allow FLIP to be down-regulated. Such prolonged interaction might be afforded through the interaction of CD8 molecules on the veto cell with the alpha3 domain of H2 class 1 on the effector cell.