T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) receptor/poliovirus receptor (PVR) ligand engagement suppresses interferon-γ production of natural killer cells via ß-arrestin 2-mediated negative signaling.

Natural killer (NK) cell activation is well orchestrated by a wide array of NK cell receptor repertoire. T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) receptor was recently defined as an inhibitory receptor that is expressed on NK cells and T cells. TIGIT receptor/poliovirus receptor (PVR) ligand engagement signaling inhibits cytotoxicity mediated by NK and CD8(+) T cells. However, it is unclear how TIGIT/PVR signaling regulates cytokine secretion in NK cells. Here we show that TIGIT/PVR engagement suppresses interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production of NK cells. TIGIT transgenic NK cells generate less IFN-γ undergoing TIGIT/PVR ligation. Moreover, TIGIT knock-out NK cells produce much more IFN-γ. TIGIT/PVR ligation signaling mediates suppression of IFN-γ production via the NF-κB pathway. We identified a novel adaptor ß-arrestin 2 that associates with phosphorylated TIGIT for further recruitment of SHIP1 (SH2-containing inositol phosphatase 1) through the ITT-like motif. Importantly, SHIP1, but not other phosphatases, impairs the TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) autoubiquitination to abolish NF-κB activation, leading to suppression of IFN-γ production in NK cells.

A method for time-resolved measurements of the mechanics of phagocytic cups.

The internalization of matter by phagocytosis is of key importance in the defence against bacterial pathogens and in the control of cancerous tumour growth. Despite the fact that phagocytosis is an inherently mechanical process, little is known about the forces and energies that a cell requires for internalization. Here, we use functionalized magnetic particles as phagocytic targets and track their motion while actuating them in an oscillating magnetic field, in order to measure the translational and rotational stiffnesses of the phagocytic cup as a function of time. The measured evolution of stiffness reveals a characteristic pattern with a pronounced peak preceding the finalization of uptake. The measured stiffness values and their time dependence can be interpreted with a model that describes the phagocytic cup as a prestressed membrane connected to an elastically deformable actin cortex. In the context of this model, the stiffness peak is a direct manifestation of a previously described mechanical bottleneck, and a comparison of model and data suggests that the membrane advances around the particle at a speed of about 20 nm s(-1). This approach is a novel way of measuring the progression of emerging phagocytic cups and their mechanical properties in situ and in real time.

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) is critical for interleukin-4 expression in response to FcepsilonRI receptor cross-linking.

Basophils mediate many of their biological functions by producing IL-4. However, it is unknown how the Il4 gene is regulated in basophils. Here, we report that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), a major myeloid transcription factor, was highly expressed in basophils. We show that C/EBPα selectively activated Il4 promoter-luciferase reporter gene transcription in response to IgE cross-linking, but C/EBPα did not activate other known Th2 or mast cell enhancers. We found that the PI3K pathway and calcineurin were essential in C/EBPα-driven Il4 promoter-luciferase gene transcription. Our mutation analyses revealed that C/EBPα drove Il4 promoter-luciferase activity depending on its DNA binding domain. Mutation of the C/EBPα-binding site in the Il4 promoter region abolished C/EBPα-driven Il4 promoter-luciferase activity. Our results further showed that a mutation in nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-binding sites in the Il4 promoter also negated C/EBPα-driven Il4 promoter-luciferase activity. Our study demonstrates that C/EBPα, in cooperation with NFAT, directly regulates Il4 gene transcription.

CD47 on experimentally senescent murine RBCs inhibits phagocytosis following Fcgamma receptor-mediated but not scavenger receptor-mediated recognition by macrophages.

CD47 functions as a marker of self on red blood cells (RBCs) by binding to signal regulatory protein alpha on macrophages, preventing phagocytosis of autologous RBCs by splenic red pulp macrophages, and Fcgamma receptor (FcgammaR)- or complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis by macrophages in general. RBC senescence involves a series of biochemical changes to plasma membrane proteins or lipids, which may regulate phagocytosis by macrophages. Here, we investigated whether CD47 on experimentally senescent murine RBCs affects their phagocytosis by macrophages in vitro. Clustering of CD47 with antibodies was more pronounced in the plasma membrane of untreated RBCs, compared with that in in vitro oxidized RBCs (Ox-RBCs). Phagocytosis of Ox-RBCs was mediated by scavenger receptors (SRs) distinct from SR-A or CD36 and required serum factors. We found that wild-type (WT) and CD47(-/-) Ox-RBCs were phagocytosed equally well by macrophages in the presence of serum, suggesting that phagocytosis via SRs is not inhibited by CD47. Despite this, FcgammaR-mediated phagocytosis of IgG-opsonized Ox-RBCs was strongly inhibited by CD47. These data suggest that based on the specific prophagocytic receptors mediating uptake of senescent RBCs, the phagocytosis-inhibitory role of CD47 may be more or less involved.

Thrombospondin-1 stimulates platelet aggregation by blocking the antithrombotic activity of nitric oxide/cGMP signaling.

Platelet alpha-granules constitute the major rapidly releasable reservoir of thrombospondin-1 in higher animals. Although some fragments and peptides derived from thrombospondin-1 stimulate or inhibit platelet aggregation, its physiologic function in platelets has remained elusive. We now show that endogenous thrombospondin-1 is necessary for platelet aggregation in vitro in the presence of physiologic levels of nitric oxide (NO). Exogenous NO or elevation of cGMP delays thrombin-induced platelet aggregation under high shear and static conditions, and exogenous thrombospondin-1 reverses this delay. Thrombospondin-1-null murine platelets fail to aggregate in response to thrombin in the presence of exogenous NO or 8Br-cGMP. At physiologic concentrations of the NO synthase substrate arginine, thrombospondin-1-null platelets have elevated basal cGMP. Ligation of CD36 or CD47 is sufficient to block NO-induced cGMP accumulation and mimic the effect of thrombospondin-1 on aggregation. Exogenous thrombospondin-1 also reverses the suppression by NO of alphaIIb/beta3 integrin-mediated platelet adhesion on immobilized fibrinogen, mediated in part by increased GTP loading of Rap1. Thrombospondin-1 also inhibits cGMP-mediated activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase and thereby prevents phosphorylation of VASP. Thus, release of thrombospondin-1 from alpha-granules during activation provides positive feedback to promote efficient platelet aggregation and adhesion by overcoming the antithrombotic activity of physiologic NO.

Analysis of mouse LMIR5/CLM-7 as an activating receptor: differential regulation of LMIR5/CLM-7 in mouse versus human cells.

We have analyzed leukocyte mono-Ig-like receptor 5 (LMIR5) as an activating receptor among paired LMIRs. Mouse LMIR5 (mLMIR5) is expressed in myeloid cells such as mast cells, granulocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Cross-linking of transduced mLMIR5 in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) caused activation events, including cytokine production, cell survival, degranulation, and adhesion to the extracellular matrix. mLMIR5 associated with DAP12 and to a lesser extent with DAP10, and mLMIR5-mediated functions of BMMCs were strongly inhibited by DAP12 deficiency. Importantly, cross-linking of endogenous mLMIR5 induced Syk-dependent activation of fetal liver-derived mast cells. Unlike mLMIR5, cross-linking of human LMIR5 (hLMIR5) induced cytokine production of BMMCs even in the absence of both DAP12 and DAP10, suggesting the existence of unidentified adaptors. Interestingly, hLMIR5 possessed a tyrosine residue (Y188) in the cytoplasmic region. Signaling via Y188 phosphorylation played a predominant role in hLMIR5-mediated cytokine production in DAP12-deficient, but not wild-type BMMCs. In addition, experiments using DAP10/DAP12 double-deficient BMMCs suggested the existence of Y188 phoshorylation-dependent and -independent signals from unidentified adaptors. Collectively, although both mouse and human LMIR5 play activatory roles in innate immunity cells, the functions of LMIR5 were differentially regulated in mouse versus human cells.

Recap on cell migration.

Most animal cells move cross-linked surface antigens to one pole of the cell, a phenomenon called 'capping'. It is closely related to the rearward movement of particles attached to their surface. Cap formation is one of the most accessible dynamic properties of cells and is closely related to how they move. Yet, how this occurs is unknown.

CD44 supports T cell proliferation and apoptosis by apposition of protein kinases.

T cell activation is supposed to require two signals via the TCR and a co-stimulatory molecule. However, the signaling cascade of co-stimulatory molecules has remained elusive. Here we provide evidence that CD44, which is constitutively associated with Ick and fyn, supports proliferation as well as apoptosis mainly, if not exclusively, by enhancing signal transduction via the TCR/CD3 complex. Antigenic stimulation of a T helper line in the presence of a CD44 receptor globulin was accompanied by a significant decrease in IL-2 production. To evaluate the underlying mechanism, CD44 was cross-linked via an immobilized antibody (IM-7). Cross-linking of CD44 induces proliferation of peripheral T cells and apoptosis of thymocytes and a T helper line in the presence of subthreshold levels of anti-CD3. Several proteins are rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated; erk and c-jun are strongly activated; expression of CD69 and CD25 is up-regulated on mature T cells; and expression of CD95 and CD95L is up-regulated on the T helper line. All these phenomena become less dependent of CD44 in the presence of high amounts of anti-CD3. Furthermore, cross-linking of CD44 is only effective when supporting co-localization of CD44 with the TCR/CD3 complex, since mixtures of beads coated with either anti-CD3 (low dose) or anti-CD44 do not induce T cell activation. These findings imply the rearrangement of adhesion molecules with apposition of protein kinases as a critical event for the initiation of signaling via the TCR/CD3 complex.

Nitric oxide inhibits capping in HL-60 cells.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on capping, which is associated with the actin polymerization in HL-60 cells (human promyelocytic leukemia cells). We first assessed the effect of NO on the patching and capping by using anti-human LFA-1 monoclonal antibody. Samples were analyzed by a fluorescence microscope. As expected, NO inhibited the percentage of capping dose dependently. We compared the effect of NO on capping with cytochalasin D (CD) and observed that CD also inhibits the capping in HL-60 cells. We next examined the effect of NO on the F-actin content. For assays of F-actin content, the FITC labelled phalloidin was permeabilized and stained in HL-60 cells. The bound fluorescence quantified by flow cytometry using a FACStar. There was a decrease in the F-actin formation in NO treated cells. Taken together, these data indicate that NO inhibits the capping on cellular membrane by decreasing the intracellular F-actin formation in HL-60 cells. We suggest that the formation of capping linked with actin polymerization at the inner leaflet of plasma membrane may be regulated by NO.

Activation of B-cells by sIgM cross-linking induces accumulation of CD5 mRNA.

The surface membrane molecule CD5 is expressed on mature T cells and on the B-1a subpopulation of B cells. These CD5 positive B cells express an antibody repertoire with a relatively high frequency of self-reactivity. There is uncertainty about the origins of CD5 B cells and the reasons for this are reviewed. Recent reports which relate to the lineage/selection debate are discussed. For instance, an increase in the frequency of CD5 B cells is a feature of several genetically determined polysystem autoimmune syndromes. In the case of motheaten (me, mev) the pathogenesis of this increase in CD5 B cells is not yet understood, even though the mutation has been mapped to the Hematopoietic cell protein-tyrosine phosphatase (Hcph) gene. Another mutation which affects B cell development, X-linked immunodeficiency (xid), encodes a point mutation in a B cell cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase. Expression of xid in otherwise normal mice causes a lack of CD5 B cells and a shift in the antibody repertoire. Interestingly, expression of both xid and motheaten results in an amelioration of autoantibody production. Evidence is presented that in B cells regulation of expression of CD5 can occur at the level of mRNA and that cross-linking of sIgM can induce the accumulation of CD5 mRNA. The overall concept advanced is that cells expressing natural autoantibodies are triggered via sIgM ligation to become CD5 B cells.

CD4:p56lck association studied in vivo using antibody-induced capping and double indirect immunofluorescence microscopy.

Accumulating data suggest that the T-cell surface antigen CD4 transduces an independent signal during antigen-mediated T-cell activation. In vitro studies which showed that the cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase p56lck is present in anti-CD4 immunoprecipitates led to the model that p56lck is associated with the cytoplasmic domain of CD4. In this report we have extended these studies and examined potential CD4:p56lck associations in vivo. We show here by double immunofluorescence microscopy a specific co-distribution of p56lck with antibody-induced CD4 caps in intact cells. Murine T-cell hybridoma lines expressing mutant forms of CD4 were used to demonstrate that the 31 carboxyterminal aminoacids of its cytoplasmic domain, in particular cysteine-420 and cysteine-422, are crucial for the formation of CD4:p56lck complexes in vivo. The potential of the method applied is discussed with regard to studies of other transmembrane signalling systems involving src-like kinases.

Wild type and tailless CD8 display similar interaction with microfilaments during capping.

We examined the influence of the intracytoplasmic region of CD8 alpha on capping and interaction with microfilaments. We used cell clones obtained by transfecting a CD4+ T-cell hybridoma with (a) T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains from a cytolytic clone and (b) CD8 alpha genes that were either native or modified by extensive deletion of the intracytoplasmic region or replacement of the transmembrane and intracytoplasmic domains with those of a class I major histocompatibility complex gene (Letourneur et al. (1990). Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 2339-2343). Different cell surface structures were cross-linked with anti-T-cell receptor, anti-CD8 or anti-class I monoclonal antibodies and anti-immunoglobulin (Fab')2. Double labeling and quantitative image analysis were combined to monitor fluorescence anisotropy and correlation between different markers. Microfilaments displayed maximal polarization within two minutes. The correlation between these structures and surface markers was then maximal and started decreasing, whereas the redistribution of surface markers remained stable or continued. Furthermore, wild type and altered CD8 alpha exhibited similar ability to be capped and to induce co-capping of TCR and MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class I: the fraction of cell surface label redistributed into a localized cap ranged between 40% and 80%. Finally, cytochalasin D dramatically decreased CD8 capping in all tested clones. It is concluded that the transmembrane and/or intracellular domains of CD8 molecules are able to drive the extensive redistributions of membrane structures and cytoskeletal elements that are triggered by CD8 cross-linking.

High-resolution surface views of human lymphocytes during capping of CD4 and HLA antigens as revealed by immunogold fracture-flip.

The surface ultrastructure of lymphocytes during capping of two transmembrane proteins is shown. As seen by fracture-flip the plasma membranes of human lymphocytes are covered by a high density of surface particles. Incubation in 30% glycerol leads to aggregation of these surface particles. Immunogold labelling shows that the transmembrane proteins bearing HLA class I and CD4 antigens are confined to the particle aggregates. These results indicate that surface particles revealed by fracture-flip represent surface protrusions of integral membrane proteins seen as intramembrane particles in freeze-fractured lymphocytes. During capping HLA or CD4 antigens aggregate into progressively larger patches and, finally, into single caps. As revealed by fracture-flip the patches/caps are seen as clearly differentiated raised platforms that are clearly and sharply demarcated relative to contiguous areas of the surface. In non-patched (non-capped) regions, the pattern of distribution and apparent density of surface particles remain unaltered. Immunogold labelling clearly demarcates patches and caps, and shows that virtually no antigen molecules remain dispersed over the non-patched (non-capped) regions. Estimates of the surface density of either HLA or CD4 antigens over the capped areas point to high planar concentrations of the transmembrane proteins that bear these antigens.

Poliovirus translation: a paradigm for a novel initiation mechanism.

All eukaryotic cellular mRNAs, and most viral mRNAs, are blocked at their 5' ends with a cap structure (m7GpppX, where X is any nucleotide). Poliovirus, along with a small number of other animal and plant viral mRNAs, does not contain a 5' cap structure. Since the cap structure functions to facilitate ribosome binding to mRNA, translation of polio-virus must proceed by a cap-independent mechanism. Consistent with this, recent studies have shown that ribosomes can bind to an internal region within the long 5' noncoding sequence of poliovirus RNA. Possible mechanisms for cap-independent translation are discussed. Cap-independent translation of poliovirus RNA is of major importance to the mechanism of shut-off of host protein synthesis after infection. Moreover, it is likely to play a role in determining poliovirus neurovirulence and attenuation.