Canonical T cell receptor docking on peptide–MHC is essential for T cell signaling

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6546) ◽  
pp. eabe9124
Author(s):  
Pirooz Zareie ◽  
Christopher Szeto ◽  
Carine Farenc ◽  
Sachith D. Gunasinghe ◽  
Elizabeth M. Kolawole ◽  
...  

T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of peptide–major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) is characterized by a highly conserved docking polarity. Whether this polarity is driven by recognition or signaling constraints remains unclear. Using “reversed-docking” TCRβ-variable (TRBV) 17+ TCRs from the naïve mouse CD8+ T cell repertoire that recognizes the H-2Db–NP366 epitope, we demonstrate that their inability to support T cell activation and in vivo recruitment is a direct consequence of reversed docking polarity and not TCR–pMHCI binding or clustering characteristics. Canonical TCR–pMHCI docking optimally localizes CD8/Lck to the CD3 complex, which is prevented by reversed TCR–pMHCI polarity. The requirement for canonical docking was circumvented by dissociating Lck from CD8. Thus, the consensus TCR–pMHC docking topology is mandated by T cell signaling constraints.

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1446
Author(s):  
June Guha ◽  
Raj Chari

T cell activation by antigen involves multiple sequential steps, including T cell receptor-microcluster TCR-(MC) formation, immunological synapse formation, and phosphorylation of mediators downstream of the TCR. The adaptor protein, Disc Large Homolog 1 (DLG1), is known to regulate proximal TCR signaling and, in turn, T cell activation, acting as a molecular chaperone that organizes specific kinases downstream of antigen recognition. In this study, we used knockdown and knockout technologies in human primary T cells and a human T cell line to demonstrate the role of DLG1 in proximal T cell signaling. High-end confocal microscopy was used for pictorial representation of T cell micro-clusters and colocalization studies. From all these studies, we could demonstrate that DLG1 functions even earlier than immunological synapse formation, to regulate T cell activation by promoting TCR-MC formation. Moreover, we found that DLG1 can act as a bridge between the TCR-ζ chain and ZAP70 while inhibiting binding of the phosphatase SHP1 to TCR-ζ. Together, these effects drive dysregulation of T cell activation in DLG1-deficient T cells. Overall, the activation and survival status of T cell is a critical determinant of effective vaccine response, and DLG1-mediated T cell signaling events can be a driving factor for improving vaccine-designing strategies.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaonan Zhang ◽  
Bin Bai ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Jiahui Zhao ◽  
Na Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractPTPN22 has been reported as an important negative regulator of T cell signaling. Here we identified EB1 as an associated protein of PTPN22 via 2-hybrid and mass spectrometry screening.Recently the phosphorylation of EB1 has been proved in the regulation of T cell receptor (TCR) mediated signaling pathway. Our results shown that PTPN22 interacted with EB1 through the P1 domain of PTPN22, and regulated the Y247 phosphorylation site of EB1. The subsequent results suggest that PTPN22 interacts with EB1 and regulate the phosphorylation of EB1, which results in the regulation of the expression of T cell activation markers of CD25 and CD69, and the phosphorylation levels of the T cell signaling molecules, such as ZAP-70, LAT and Erk, ultimately resulting in NFAT transcription factors entering the nucleus and regulating the secretion of cytokine IL-2. This newly identified interaction between PTPN22 and EB1 may play an important role in TCR signal pathways.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 601-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth M. Risueño ◽  
Diana Gil ◽  
Edgar Fernández ◽  
Francisco Sánchez-Madrid ◽  
Balbino Alarcón

Abstract Triggering of the T-cell receptor (TCR) can produce very different responses, depending on the nature of the major histocompatibility complex/antigen peptide (MHCp) ligand. The molecular mechanisms that permit such fine discrimination are still unknown. We show here that an epitope in the cytoplasmic tail of the TCR CD3ϵ subunit, recognized by antibody APA1/1, is only detected when the TCR is fully activated. Exposure of the APA1/1 epitope is shown to be fast and independent of tyrosine kinase activity and that it takes place even when T cells are stimulated at 0°C. These results suggest that APA1/1 detects a conformational change in the TCR. APA1/1 staining concentrates in a restricted area of the immunologic synapse. Most important, we show that full agonist, but not partial agonist, peptides induce exposure of the APA1/1 epitope, indicating a correlation between the induction of the conformational change in the TCR and full T-cell activation. Finally, the conformational change is shown to occur in T cells that are being stimulated by antigen in vivo. Therefore, these results demonstrate that the TCR undergoes a conformational change on MHCp binding in vitro and in vivo, and they establish a molecular correlate for productive TCR engagement. (Blood. 2005;106:601-608)


2003 ◽  
Vol 197 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunsuke Chikuma ◽  
John B. Imboden ◽  
Jeffrey A. Bluestone

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is an essential negative regulator of T cell activation. Recent evidence suggests that CTLA-4 association with the immunological synapse during contact with antigen-presenting cells is important for its inhibitory function. In the present study, we observed a direct interaction of CTLA-4 with the phosphorylated form of T cell receptor (TCR)ζ within the glycolipid-enriched microdomains associated with the T cell signaling complex. In this setting, CTLA-4 regulated the accumulation/retention of TCRζ in the signaling complex, as the lipid raft fractions from CTLA-4KO T cells contained significantly higher amounts of the TCR components when compared with wild-type littermates. In contrast, coligation of CTLA-4 with the TCR during T cell activation selectively decreased the amount of TCRζ that accumulated in the rafts. These results suggest that CTLA-4 functions to regulate T cell signaling by controlling TCR accumulation and/or retention within this a critical component of the immunological synapse.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A.E. Elliot ◽  
Emma K. Jennings ◽  
David A.J. Lecky ◽  
Natasha Thawait ◽  
Adriana Flores-Langarica ◽  
...  

SummaryHow T cell receptor (TCR) signal strength modulates T cell function and to what extent this is modified by immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) are key questions in immunology. Using Nr4a3-Tocky mice as a digital read-out of NFAT pathway activity, we identify the rapid quantitative and qualitative changes that occur in CD4+ T cells in response to a range of TCR signalling strengths. We demonstrate that the time and dose dependent programming of distinct co-inhibitory receptors rapidly re-calibrates T cell activation thresholds. By developing a new in vivo model, we analyse the immediate effects of ICB on T cell re-activation. Our findings reveal that anti-PD1 but not anti-Lag3 immunotherapy leads to an increased TCR signal strength. We define a strong TCR signal metric of five genes specifically upregulated by anti-PD1 in T cells (TCR.strong), which can stratify clinical outcomes during anti-PD1 monotherapy in melanoma patients. Our study therefore reveals how analysis of TCR signal strength – and its manipulation – can provide powerful metrics for monitoring outcomes to immunotherapy.Key PointsTCR signal strength-dependent programming of CD4+ T cells revealed over time in vivoInhibitory receptor expression is dynamic, TCR signal strength dependent, and rapidly re-calibrates T cell activation thresholdsPD1 but not Lag3 blockade leads to a unique and increased TCR signal strength signature (coined TCR.strong)TCR.strong metric stratifies melanoma patient survival in response to Nivolumab (anti-PD1) therapy


2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar I. Vivar ◽  
Giulia Masi ◽  
Jean-Marie Carpier ◽  
Joao G. Magalhaes ◽  
Donatella Galgano ◽  
...  

Biogenesis of the immune synapse at the interface between antigen-presenting cells and T cells assembles and organizes a large number of membrane proteins required for effective signaling through the T-cell receptor. We showed previously that the intraflagellar transport protein 20 (IFT20), a component of the intraflagellar transport system, controls polarized traffic during immune synapse assembly. To investigate the role of IFT20 in primary CD4+ T cells in vitro and in vivo, we generated mice bearing a conditional defect of IFT20 expression in T cells. We show that in the absence of IFT20, although cell spreading and the polarization of the centrosome were unaffected, T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling and recruitment of the signaling adaptor LAT (linker for activation of T cells) at the immune synapse were reduced. As a consequence, CD4+ T-cell activation and proliferation were also defective. In vivo, conditional IFT20-deficient mice failed to mount effective antigen-specific T-cell responses, and their T cells failed to induce colitis after adoptive transfer to Rag−/− mice. IFT20 is therefore required for the delivery of the intracellular pool of LAT to the immune synapse in naive primary T lymphocytes and for effective T-cell responses in vivo.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3310-3310
Author(s):  
Anna Luise Bernhardt ◽  
Sascha Kretschmann ◽  
Judith Bausenwein ◽  
Heidi Balzer ◽  
Andreas Mackensen ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: The separation of graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect from graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) is a major objective after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We recently described two types of endogenous HLA class II restricted antigens depending on their behavior towards HLA-DM. While DM-resistant antigens are presented in the presence of HLA-DM, presentation of DM-sensitive antigens rely on co-expression of HLA-DO - the natural inhibitor of HLA-DM. Since the expression of HLA-DO is not upregulated by inflammatory cytokines and restricted to B-cells, dendritic cells and thymic epithelial cells, DM-sensitive antigens cannot be presented on non-hematopoietic tissues. Therefore, usage of CD4 T-cells directed against DM-sensitive antigens might allow separation of GvL from GvHD. However, it remains elusive whether immunogenicity and anti-tumorigenic potential of DM-sensitive and DM-resistant antigens have comparable properties in vivo. Methods: Therefore, we sought to create an in vivo system using a DM-sensitive and a DM-resistant variant of the same model antigen. First, we generated murine cell lines overexpressing either H2-M or H2-O (murine HLA-DM or HLA-DO, respectively) to allocate the two model antigens ovalbumin (OVA) and murine Y-chromosome antigen DBY to their category. Furthermore, we introduced one to three amino acid substitutions within the MHC II restricted T-cell epitopes of the two antigens and tested DM-sensitivity or DM-resistance by T-cell activation using proliferation and IFN-g secretion as read-out in vitro. Finally, we vaccinated B6 mice with the generated epitope variants and measured expansion, phenotype and reactivity of OVA- or DBY-specific CD4 T-cells in vivo. Results: By testing T-cell recognition of OVA or DBY on murine B-cell lines overexpressing H2-M and H2-O, respectively, we could show that OVA leads to a more potent T-cell activation in the presence of H2-O demonstrating its DM-sensitive character. In contrast the wildtype epitope of DBY does not rely on H2-O expression for strong T-cell activation and was therefore assessed as DM-resistant antigen. By introducing one to three amino acid substitutions within the T-cell epitope we could generate one further DM-sensitive variant of OVA but also two DM-resistant counterparts. Likewise, we designed both DM-resistant and DM-sensitive epitope variants of murine DBY. To assess T-cell receptor avidity to our epitope variants presented on natural antigen presenting cells, titration of DM-sensitive and DM-resistant variants of the same antigen on untreated splenocytes from OVA or DBY T-cell receptor transgenic mice, respectively, were performed. We observed comparable activation of the same T-cell clone activated by either variant of the epitope as measured by proliferation and IFN-g secretion. Furthermore, upon vaccination of B6 mice with either variant of the epitope we could measure comparable expansion, phenotype, and reactivity of OVA- and DBY-specific T-cells both invivo and ex vivo. Conclusion: We successfully generated DM-sensitive and DM-resistant variants of the same epitope for the two model antigens OVA and murine DBY. With this tool we could demonstrate that DM-sensitive antigens are not inferior to their DM-resistant counterpart. Therefore, targeting DM-sensitive antigens after allogenic stem cell transplantation might be an interesting tool to improve the GvL effect with only limited GvHD. Disclosures Bernhardt: DFG TRR221/project A1 (German Research Foundation): Research Funding.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin T. Turner ◽  
James Brown ◽  
Emily Shaw ◽  
Imran Uddin ◽  
Evdokia Tsaliki ◽  
...  

ObjectiveIn people living with HIV (PLHIV), we sought to test the hypothesis that long term anti-retroviral therapy restores the normal T cell repertoire, and investigate the functional relationship of residual repertoire abnormalities to persistent immune system dysregulation.MethodsWe conducted a case-control study in PLHIV and HIV-negative volunteers, of circulating T cell receptor repertoires and whole blood transcriptomes by RNA sequencing, complemented by metadata from routinely collected health care records.ResultsT cell receptor sequencing revealed persistent abnormalities in the clonal T cell repertoire of PLHIV, characterized by reduced repertoire diversity and oligoclonal T cell expansion correlated with elevated CD8 T cell counts. We found no evidence that these expansions were driven by cytomegalovirus or another common antigen. Increased frequency of long CDR3 sequences and reduced frequency of public sequences among the expanded clones implicated abnormal thymic selection as a contributing factor. These abnormalities in the repertoire correlated with systems level evidence of persistent T cell activation in genome-wide blood transcriptomes.ConclusionsThe diversity of T cell receptor repertoires in PLHIV on long term anti-retroviral therapy remains significantly depleted, and skewed by idiosyncratic clones, partly attributable to altered thymic output and associated with T cell mediated chronic immune activation. Further investigation of thymic function and the antigenic drivers of T cell clonal selection in PLHIV are critical to efforts to fully re-establish normal immune function.


Author(s):  
Ying Fan ◽  
Bieerkehazhi Shayahati ◽  
Ritika Tewari ◽  
Darren Boehning ◽  
Askar M. Akimzhanov

ABSTRACTS-acylation – reversible post-translational lipidation of cysteine residues – is emerging as an important regulatory mechanism in T cell signaling. Dynamic S-acylation is critical for protein recruitment into the T cell receptor complex and initiation of the subsequent signaling cascade. However, the enzymatic control of protein S-acylation in T cells remains poorly understood. Here, we report a previously uncharacterized role of DHHC21, a member of the mammalian family of DHHC protein acyltransferases, in regulation of the T cell receptor pathway. We found that loss of DHHC21 prevented S-acylation of key T cell signaling proteins, resulting in disruption of the early signaling events and suppressed expression of T cell activation markers. Furthermore, downregulation of DHHC21 prevented activation and differentiation of naïve T cells into effector subtypes. Together, our study provides the first direct evidence that DHHC protein acyltransferases can play an essential role in regulation of T cell-mediated immunity.


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