Regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of Phospholipid Scramblase 1 in mast cells that are stimulated through the high-affinity IgE receptor.

Engagement of high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptors (FcεRI) activates two signaling pathways in mast cells. The Lyn pathway leads to recruitment of Syk and to calcium mobilization whereas the Fyn pathway leads to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase recruitment. Mapping the connections between both pathways remains an important task to be completed. We previously reported that Phospholipid Scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) is phosphorylated on tyrosine after cross-linking FcεRI on RBL-2H3 rat mast cells, amplifies mast cell degranulation, and is associated with both Lyn and Syk tyrosine kinases. Here, analysis of the pathway leading to PLSCR1 tyrosine phosphorylation reveals that it depends on the FcRγ chain. FcεRI aggregation in Fyn-deficient mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) induced a more robust increase in FcεRI-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of PLSCR1 compared to wild-type cells, whereas PLSCR1 phosphorylation was abolished in Lyn-deficient BMMC. Lyn association with PLSCR1 was not altered in Fyn-deficient BMMC. PLSCR1 phosphorylation was also dependent on the kinase Syk and significantly, but partially, dependent on detectable calcium mobilization. Thus, the Lyn/Syk/calcium axis promotes PLSCR1 phosphorylation in multiple ways. Conversely, the Fyn-dependent pathway negatively regulates it. This study reveals a complex regulation for PLSCR1 tyrosine phosphorylation in FcεRI-activated mast cells and that PLSCR1 sits at a crossroads between Lyn and Fyn pathways.

Involvement of Munc18 isoforms in the regulation of granule exocytosis in neutrophils.

Human neutrophil granule exocytosis mobilizes a complex set of secretory granules. This involves different combinations of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins to facilitate membrane fusion. The control mechanisms governing the late fusion steps are still poorly understood. Here, we have analyzed SNARE-interacting Sec1/Munc18 (SM) family members. We found that human neutrophils express Munc18-2 and Munc18-3 isoforms and that Munc18-2 interacts with the target-SNARE syntaxin 3. Munc18-2 was associated preferentially with primary granules but could also be found with secondary and tertiary granules, while Munc18-3 was majorily associated with secondary and tertiary granules. Ultrastructural analysis showed that both Munc18-2 and Munc18-3 were often located in close proximity to their respective SNARE-binding partners syntaxin 3 and syntaxin 4. Both isoforms were also found in plasma membrane fractions and in the cytosol, where they associate with cytoskeletal elements. Upon stimulation, Munc18-2 and Munc18-3 redistributed and became enriched on granules and in the plasma membrane. Munc18-2 primary granule exocytosis can be blocked by introduction of Munc18-2-specific antibodies indicating a crucial role in primary granule fusion. Our results suggest that Munc18-2 acts as a regulator of primary granule exocytosis, while Munc18-3 may preferentially regulate the fusion of secondary granules.

Inhibitory ITAM signaling by Fc alpha RI-FcR gamma chain controls multiple activating responses and prevents renal inflammation.

Inhibitory signaling is an emerging function of ITAM-bearing immunoreceptors in the maintenance of homeostasis. Monovalent targeting of the IgA Fc receptor (FcalphaRI or CD89) by anti-FcalphaRI Fab triggers potent inhibitory ITAM (ITAM(i)) signaling through the associated FcRgamma chain (FcalphaRI-FcRgamma ITAM(i)) that prevents IgG phagocytosis and IgE-mediated asthma. It is not known whether FcalphaRI-FcRgamma ITAM(i) signaling controls receptors that do not function through an ITAM and whether this inhibition requires Src homology protein 1 phosphatase. We show in this study that FcalphaRI-Fcgamma ITAM(i) signals depend on Src homology protein 1 phosphatase to target multiple non-ITAM-bearing receptors such as chemotactic receptors, cytokine receptors, and TLRs. We found that anti-FcalphaRI Fab treatment in vivo reduced kidney inflammation in models of immune-mediated glomerulonephritis and nonimmune obstructive nephropathy by a mechanism that involved decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis development. This treatment also prevented ex vivo LPS activation of monocytes from patients with lupus nephritis or vasculitis, as well as receptor activation through serum IgA complexes from IgA nephropathy patients. These findings point to a crucial role of FcalphaRI-FcRgamma ITAM(i) signaling in the control of multiple heterologous or autologous inflammatory responses. They also identify anti-FcalphaRI Fab as a new potential therapeutic tool for preventing progression of renal inflammatory diseases.

IgA Fc receptor I signals apoptosis through the FcRgamma ITAM and affects tumor growth.

The IgA Fc receptor (FcalphaRI) has dual proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions that are transmitted through the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) of the associated FcRgamma subunit. Whereas the involvement of FcalphaRI in inflammation is well documented, little is known of its anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Here we show that monomeric targeting of FcalphaRI by anti-FcalphaRI Fab or serum IgA triggers apoptosis in human monocytes, monocytic cell lines, and FcalphaRI+ transfectants. However, the physiologic ligand IgA induced apoptosis only when cells were cultured in low serum conditions, indicating differences with induction of anti-inflammatory signaling. Apoptosis signaling required the FcRgamma ITAM, as cells transfected with FcalphaRI or with a chimeric FcalphaRI-FcRgamma responded to death-activating signals, whereas cells expressing a mutated FcalphaRI(R209L) unable to associate with FcRgamma, or an ITAM-mutated chimeric FcalphaRI-FcRgamma, did not respond. FcalphaRI-mediated apoptosis signals were blocked by treatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk, involved proteolysis of procaspase-3, and correlated negatively with SHP-1 concentration. Anti-FcalphaRI Fab treatment of nude mice injected subcutaneously with FcalphaRI+ mast-cell transfectants prevented tumor development and halted the growth of established tumors. These findings demonstrate that, on monomeric targeting, FcalphaRI functions as an FcRgamma ITAM-dependent apoptotic module that may be fundamental for controlling inflammation and tumor growth.

Mast cell-mediated remodeling and fibrinolytic activity protect against fatal glomerulonephritis.

Mast cells are detrimental in several inflammatory diseases; however, their physiological roles are also increasingly recognized. Recent data suggest that mast cells may also be involved in renal diseases. We therefore used congenitally mast cell-deficient W/W(v) mice and normal +/+ littermates to assess their role in anti-glomerular basement membrane-induced glomerulonephritis. Following administration of anti-glomerular basement membrane Abs, W/W(v) mice exhibited increased mortality as compared with +/+ mice owing to rapid deterioration of renal function. Reconstitution of the mast cell population in W/W(v) mice restored protection. This was independent of activating FcgammaR, as protection was also obtained using mast cells deficient in FcRgamma. Comparative histological analysis of kidneys showed that deterioration of renal function was caused by the presence of thick layers of subendothelial glomerular deposits in W/W(v) mice, while +/+ mice or mast cell-reconstituted W/W(v) mice showed significantly less. Deposits appeared during the early phase of disease and persisted thereafter, and were accompanied by enhanced macrophage recruitment. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased amounts of fibrin and type I collagen in W/W(v) mice, which were also unable to maintain high tissue plasminogen activator and urinary-type plasminogen activator activity in urine in the heterologous phase of disease. Our results indicate that mast cells by their ability to mediate remodeling and repair functions are protective in immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis.

[The high-affinity IgE receptor: lessons from structural analysis]. / Le récepteur de forte affinité pour l'IgE: leçons d'une analyse structurale.

The high affinity receptor for IgE, FcERI, is at the core of the allergic reaction. This receptor is expressed mainly on mast cells and basophils. Interaction of an allergen with its specific IgE bound to FcERI triggers cell activation, which induces the release of numerous mediators that are responsible for allergic manifestations. The recent increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases in developed countries has resulted in renewed efforts towards the development of new drugs. One of these is a humanised antibody directed against the IgE ligand. This antibody recognises specifically free but not FcERI-bound IgE thus preventing ligand binding and subsequent cell activation. This antibody has shown some efficacy in clinical trials involving patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The recent elucidation of the tridimensional structure of the complex between IgE and FcERI provides unexpected information regarding the mechanism of assembly of the complex, which now can be used to design small chemical compounds capable of specifically inhibiting this interaction.