MEK1-RSK2 contributes to Hedgehog signaling by stabilizing GLI2 transcription factor and inhibiting ubiquitination.

The transcription factor GLI2 has an important role in the transduction of Hedgehog signaling and thereby regulates tumorigenesis in a wide variety of human tumors. However, the mechanisms controlling GLI2 protein expression and stabilization are incompletely understood. In this study, we show that the mitogen-activated protein kinase MEK1 modulates GLI2 both at the mRNA and protein level. Constitutively activated MEK1 prolonged the half-life of GLI2 and increased its nuclear translocation, accompanied by attenuated ubiquitination of GLI2 protein. RSK2, a protein kinase lying downstream of MEK-ERK cascade, mimicked the effect of MEK on GLI2 stabilization. MEK1 and RSK2 failed to augment the half-life of GLI2 lacking GSK-3ß phosphorylation sites, indicating that MEK-RSK stabilizes GLI2 by controlling targeting GSK-3ß-mediated phosphorylation and ubiquitination of GLI2. The significance of MEK-RSK stabilization was demonstrated in experiments showing that activation of MEK-RSK paralleled higher protein level of GLI2 in several multiple myelomas (MM) cells relative to normal B cells. Moreover, combined treatment with RSK and GLI inhibitors led to an enhanced apoptosis of MM cells. Thus, our results indicate that MEK-RSK cascade positively regulates GLI2 stabilization and represses its degradation via inhibiting GSK-3ß-dependent phosphorylation and ubiquitination of GLI2.

Membrane raft association of CD47 is necessary for actin polymerization and protein kinase C theta translocation in its synergistic activation of T cells.

CD47 is a ubiquitously expressed membrane protein with an extracellular Ig domain and a multiple membrane-spanning domain that can synergize with antigen to induce interleukin (IL)-2 secretion by T lymphocytes. Ligation of CD47 induced actin polymerization and increased protein kinase Ctheta (PKCtheta) association with the cytoskeleton independent of antigen receptor ligation, but ligation of mutant forms of the molecule missing either the Ig domain or the multiple membrane-spanning domain did not. Simultaneous ligation of CD47 and CD3 led to additive effects on F-actin and synergistic effects on PKCtheta cytoskeletal association. Disruption of membrane rafts by removal of cholesterol with cyclodextrin blocked CD47-induced actin polymerization, and mutant forms of CD47 that localized poorly to rafts failed to effect cytoskeletal rearrangement. However, raft association alone was not sufficient, because a raft-localized CD47 Ig domain bound to the membrane by a glycan phosphoinositol anchor was unable to induce actin polymerization. A mutant form of CD47 without its Ig domain that did not induce actin polymerization or localize to rafts still enhanced T cell receptor (TCR)-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCgamma and associated Ca(2+) signaling but did not augment IL-2 secretion. Thus, CD47 synergy with TCR to increase [Ca(2+)](i) is independent of actin and rafts but is insufficient to explain CD47 cooperation with TCR in IL-2 synthesis. Full synergy with TCR requires CD47 localization to membrane rafts where ligation leads to TCR-independent signals causing actin polymerization and PKCtheta translocation.

Cell spreading distinguishes the mechanism of augmentation of T cell activation by integrin-associated protein/CD47 and CD28.

Integrin-associated protein (IAP/CD47) is a 50 kDa transmembrane protein initially defined as a regulator of beta3 integrin-mediated functions in neutrophils. IAP also can synergize with the TCR in T cell activation independent of beta3 integrins. To analyze the mechanism for IAP synergy with TCR, we expressed in Jurkat cells a chimeric molecule, consisting of the CD16 extracellular domain, the CD7 transmembrane domain and the TCR zeta chain cytoplasmic tail (CD16-7-zeta), which on its own is unable to induce IL-2 production. Ligation of IAP acted in synergy with TCR to induce IL-2 transcription and synthesis, but failed to synergize with the signal generated by CD16-7-zeta, while CD28 was a potent co-stimulator with both TCR and CD16-7-zeta. The failure of IAP to activate Jurkat together with CD16-7-zeta correlated with a lack of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, but not extracellular-signal-regulated kinase activation. Jurkat adhesion to anti-IAP, but not anti-CD28, induced cell spreading and the same domains of IAP required for augmentation of T cell activation were required to induce cell spreading. IAP synergy with TCR signaling likely results from its ability to stimulate adhesion to a ligand-expressing surface or antigen-presenting cell (APC), rather than from initiation of a novel signaling cascade. We conclude that a major role for ligation of IAP in T cell activation is to enhance the efficiency of TCR signaling by causing T cells to spread on an APC or surface.

Costimulation of T cell activation by integrin-associated protein (CD47) is an adhesion-dependent, CD28-independent signaling pathway.

The integrin-associated protein (IAP, CD47) is a 50-kD plasma membrane protein with a single extracellular immunoglobulin variable (IgV)-like domain, a multiply membrane-spanning segment, and alternatively spliced short cytoplasmic tails. On neutrophils, IAP has been shown to function in a signaling complex with beta 3 integrins. However, the function of IAP on T cells, which express little or no beta 3 integrin, is not yet defined. Here, we show that mAbs recognizing IAP can enhance proliferation of primary human T cells in the presence of low levels of anti-CD3, but have no effect on T cell proliferation on their own. Together with suboptimal concentrations of anti-CD3, engagement of IAP also enhances IL-2 production in Jurkat cells, an apparently integrin-independent function of IAP. Nonetheless, costimulation by IAP ligation requires cell adhesion. IAP costimulation does not require CD28. Furthermore, anti-IAP, but not anti-CD28, synergizes with suboptimal anti-CD3 to enhance tyrosine phosphorylation of the CD3 zeta chain and the T cell-specific tyrosine kinase Zap70. Ligation of human IAP transfected into the hemoglobin-specific 3.L2 murine T cell hybridoma costimulates activation for IL-2 secretion both with anti-CD3 and with antigenic peptides on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Moreover, ligation of IAP but not CD28 can convert antagonist peptides into agonists in 3.L2 cells. Using costimulation by IAP ligation as an assay to analyze the structure-function relationships in IAP signaling, we find that both the extracellular and multiply membrane-spanning domains of IAP are necessary for synergy with the antigen receptor, but the alternatively spliced cytoplasmic tails are not. These data demonstrate that IAP ligation initiates an adhesion-dependent costimulatory pathway distinct from CD28. We hypothesize that anti-IAP generates the costimulatory signal because it modulates interactions of the IgV domain with other plasma membrane molecules; this in turn activates effector functions of the multiply membrane-spanning domain of IAP. This model may have general significance for how IAP functions in cell activation.

Integrin-associated protein immunoglobulin domain is necessary for efficient vitronectin bead binding.

Integrin-associated protein (IAP/CD47) is physically associated with the alpha v beta 3 vitronectin (Vn) receptor and a functionally and immunologically related integrin on neutrophils (PMN) and monocytes. Anti-IAP antibodies inhibit multiple phagocyte functions, including Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-initiated activation of phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and respiratory burst; PMN adhesion to entactin; and PMN transendothelial and transepithelial migration at a step subsequent to tight intercellular adhesion. Anti-IAP antibodies also inhibit binding of Vn-coated particles to many cells expressing alpha v beta 3. However, prior studies with anti-IAP did not directly address IAP function because they could not distinguish between IAP blockade and antibody-induced signaling effects on cells. To better determine the function of IAP, we have characterized and used an IAP-deficient human cell line. Despite expressing alpha v integrins, these cells do not bind Vn-coated particles unless transfected with IAP expression constructs. Increasing the level of alpha v beta 3 expression or increasing Vn density on the particle does not overcome the requirement for IAP. All known splice variants of IAP restore Vn particle binding equivalently. Indeed, the membrane-anchored IAP Ig variable domain suffices to mediate Vn particle binding in this system, while the multiply membrane-spanning and cytoplasmic domains are dispensable. In all cases, adhesion to a Vn-coated surface and fibronectin particle binding through alpha 5 beta 1 fibronectin receptors are independent of IAP expression. These data demonstrate that some alpha v integrin ligand-binding functions are IAP independent, whereas others require IAP, presumably through direct physical interaction between its Ig domain and the integrin.

In vivo expression of alternatively spliced forms of integrin-associated protein (CD47).

Integrin-associated protein (IAP) is a 50 kDa plasma membrane protein physically and functionally associated with beta 3 integrins in a variety of cells. IAP has an extracellular immunoglobulin domain, five transmembrane domains and a short intracytoplasmic tail. IAP is recognized by anti-CD47 antibodies and is expressed on cells, such as erythrocytes and lymphocytes, which do not express beta 3 integrins. To learn more about potential functions of IAP we examined its expression in vivo. Using the polymerase chain reaction, we detected 4 alternatively splice forms of IAP which differ from each other only at their intracytoplasmic carboxy termini. These alternatively spliced forms are generated by inclusion or exclusion of three short exons within 5 kb in the genome and are highly conserved between mouse and man. There is tissue specificity of expression of the alternatively spliced forms of IAP mRNA, with bone marrow-derived cells expressing predominantly one form and neural tissue another. Using polyclonal antibodies which recognize the alternatively spliced bone marrow (form 2) and neural (form 4) forms of IAP, we found that in accord with the mRNA, form 2 protein was expressed in all tissues primarily on bone marrow-derived cells and endothelia, while form 4 was highly expressed in the brain and peripheral nervous system. The evolutionary conservation of IAP isoforms and their tissue-specific expression suggest an important role for these intracytoplasmic domains in IAP function.