Characterization of a mutant calcineurin A alpha gene expressed by EL4 lymphoma cells

Widespread alteration of protein autoinhibition in human cancers

Autoinhibition is a prevalent allosteric regulatory mechanism in signaling proteins. Reduced autoinhibition underlies the tumorigenic effect of some known cancer drivers, but whether autoinhibition is altered generally in cancer remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that cancer-associated missense mutations, in-frame insertions/deletions, and fusion breakpoints are enriched within inhibitory allosteric switches (IASs) across all cancer types. Selection for IASs that are recurrently mutated in cancers identifies established and unknown cancer drivers. Recurrent missense mutations in IASs of these drivers are associated with distinct, cancer-specific changes in molecular signaling. For the specific case of PPP3CA, the catalytic subunit of calcineurin, we provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of altered autoinhibition by cancer mutations using biomolecular simulations, and demonstrate that such mutations are associated with transcriptome changes consistent with increased calcineurin signaling. Our integrative study shows that autoinhibition-modulating genetic alterations are positively selected for by cancer cells.

Calcineurin-mediated dephosphorylation enhances the stability and transactivation of c-Myc

c-Myc, a transcription factor, induces cell proliferation and is often aberrantly or highly expressed in cancers. However, molecular mechanisms underlying this aberrantly high expression remain unclear. Here, we found that intracellular Ca2+ concentration regulates c-Myc oncoprotein stability. We identified that calcineurin, a Ca2+-dependent protein phosphatase, is a positive regulator of c-Myc expression. Calcineurin depletion suppresses c-Myc targeted gene expression and c-Myc degradation. Calcineurin directly dephosphorylates Thr58 and Ser62 in c-Myc, which inhibit binding to the ubiquitin ligase Fbxw7. Mutations within the autoinhibitory domain of calcineurin, most frequently observed in cancer, may increase phosphatase activity, increasing c-Myc transcriptional activity in turn. Notably, calcineurin inhibition with FK506 decreased c-Myc expression with enhanced Thr58 and Ser62 phosphorylation in a mouse xenograft model. Thus, calcineurin can stabilize c-Myc, promoting tumor progression. Therefore, we propose that Ca2+ signaling dysfunction affects cancer-cell proliferation via increased c-Myc stability and that calcineurin inhibition could be a new therapeutic target of c-Myc-overexpressing cancers.

Decoding the Phosphatase Code: Regulation of Cell Proliferation by Calcineurin

Calcineurin, a calcium-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase, integrates the alterations in intracellular calcium levels into downstream signaling pathways by regulating the phosphorylation states of several targets. Intracellular Ca²⁺ is essential for normal cellular physiology and cell cycle progression at certain critical stages of the cell cycle. Recently, it was reported that calcineurin is activated in a variety of cancers. Given that abnormalities in calcineurin signaling can lead to malignant growth and cancer, the calcineurin signaling pathway could be a potential target for cancer treatment. For example, NFAT, a typical substrate of calcineurin, activates the genes that promote cell proliferation. Furthermore, cyclin D1 and estrogen receptors are dephosphorylated and stabilized by calcineurin, leading to cell proliferation. In this review, we focus on the cell proliferative functions and regulatory mechanisms of calcineurin and summarize the various substrates of calcineurin. We also describe recent advances regarding dysregulation of the calcineurin activity in cancer cells. We hope that this review will provide new insights into the potential role of calcineurin in cancer development.

DNA/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotide technology for regulating lymphocytes in vivo

Manipulating lymphocyte functions with gene silencing approaches is promising for treating autoimmunity, inflammation, and cancer. Although oligonucleotide therapy has been proven to be successful in treating several conditions, efficient in vivo delivery of oligonucleotide to lymphocyte populations remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate that intravenous injection of a heteroduplex oligonucleotide (HDO), comprised of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and its complementary RNA conjugated to α-tocopherol, silences lymphocyte endogenous gene expression with higher potency, efficacy, and longer retention time than ASOs. Importantly, reduction of Itga4 by HDO ameliorates symptoms in both adoptive transfer and active experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis models. Our findings reveal the advantages of HDO with enhanced gene knockdown effect and different delivery mechanisms compared with ASO. Thus, regulation of lymphocyte functions by HDO is a potential therapeutic option for immune-mediated diseases.

Calmodulin-Calcineurin Interaction beyond the Calmodulin-Binding Region Contributes to Calcineurin Activation

Calcineurin (CaN) is a calcium-dependent phosphatase involved in numerous signaling pathways. Its activation is in part driven by the binding of calmodulin (CaM) to a CaM recognition region (CaMBR) within CaN's regulatory domain (RD). However, secondary interactions between CaM and the CaN RD may be necessary to fully activate CaN. Specifically, it is established that the CaN RD folds upon CaM binding and a region C-terminal to CaMBR, the "distal helix", assumes an α-helix fold and contributes to activation [Dunlap, T. B., et al. (2013) Biochemistry 52, 8643-8651]. We hypothesized in that previous study that this distal helix can bind CaM in a region distinct from the canonical CaMBR. To test this hypothesis, we utilized molecular simulations, including replica-exchange molecular dynamics, protein-protein docking, and computational mutagenesis, to determine potential distal helix-binding sites on CaM's surface. We isolated a potential binding site on CaM (site D) that facilitates moderate-affinity interprotein interactions and predicted that mutation of site D residues K30 and G40 on CaM would weaken CaN distal helix binding. We experimentally confirmed that two variants (K30E and G40D) indicate weaker binding of a phosphate substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate to the CaN catalytic site by a phosphatase assay. This weakened substrate affinity is consistent with competitive binding of the CaN autoinhibition domain to the catalytic site, which we suggest is due to the weakened distal helix-CaM interactions. This study therefore suggests a novel mechanism for CaM regulation of CaN that may extend to other CaM targets.

Placing ion channels into a signaling network of T cells: from maturing thymocytes to healthy T lymphocytes or leukemic T lymphoblasts

T leukemogenesis is a multistep process, where the genetic errors during T cell maturation cause the healthy progenitor to convert into the leukemic precursor that lost its ability to differentiate but possesses high potential for proliferation, self-renewal, and migration. A new misdirecting "leukemogenic" signaling network appears, composed by three types of participants which are encoded by (1) genes implicated in determined stages of T cell development but deregulated by translocations or mutations, (2) genes which normally do not participate in T cell development but are upregulated, and (3) nondifferentially expressed genes which become highly interconnected with genes expressed differentially. It appears that each of three groups may contain genes coding ion channels. In T cells, ion channels are implicated in regulation of cell cycle progression, differentiation, activation, migration, and cell death. In the present review we are going to reveal a relationship between different genetic defects, which drive the T cell neoplasias, with calcium signaling and ion channels. We suggest that changes in regulation of various ion channels in different types of the T leukemias may provide the intracellular ion microenvironment favorable to maintain self-renewal capacity, arrest differentiation, induce proliferation, and enhance motility.

NF-κB factors control the induction of NFATc1 in B lymphocytes

In peripheral lymphocytes, the transcription factors (TFs) NF-κB, NFAT, and AP-1 are the prime targets of signals that emerge from immune receptors. Upon activation, these TFs induce gene networks that orchestrate the growth, expansion, and effector function of peripheral lymphocytes. NFAT and NF-κB factors share several properties, such as a similar mode of induction and architecture in their DNA-binding domain, and there is a subgroup of κB-like DNA promoter motifs that are bound by both types of TFs. However, unlike NFAT and AP-1 factors that interact and collaborate in binding to DNA, NFAT, and NF-κB seem neither to interact nor to collaborate. We show here that NF-κB1/p50 and c-Rel, the most prominent NF-κB proteins in BCR-induced splenic B cells, control the induction of NFATc1/αA, a prominent short NFATc1 isoform. In part, this is mediated through two composite κB/NFAT-binding sites in the inducible Nfatc1 P1 promoter that directs the induction of NFATc1/αA by BCR signals. In concert with coreceptor signals that induce NF-κB factors, BCR signaling induces a persistent generation of NFATc1/αA. These data suggest a tight connection between NFATc1 and NF-κB induction in B lymphocytes contributing to the effector function of peripheral B cells.

NFATc1 induction in peripheral T and B lymphocytes

NFAT transcription factors control the proliferation and survival of peripheral lymphocytes. We have reported previously that the short isoform NFATc1/αA whose generation is induced by immune receptor stimulation supports the proliferation and inhibits the activation-induced cell death of peripheral T and B cells. We will show in this study that in novel bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice that express EGFP under the control of entire Nfatc1 locus the Nfatc1/Egfp transgene is expressed as early as in double-negative thymocytes and in nonstimulated peripheral T and B cells. Upon immune receptor stimulation, Nfatc1/Egfp expression is elevated in B, Th1, and Th2 cells, but only weakly in T regulatory, Th9, and Th17 cells in vitro whose generation is affected by TGFβ. In naive lymphocytes, persistent immune receptor signals led to a 3-5 increase in NFATc1/αA RNA levels during primary and secondary stimulation, but a much stronger induction was observed at the protein level. Whereas anti-CD3(+)CD28 stimulation of primary T cells induces both NFATc1/αA and their proliferation and survival, anti-IgM stimulation of B cells induces NFATc1/αA and proliferation, but activation-induced cell death after 3-d incubation in vitro. The anti-IgM-mediated activation-induced cell death induction of B cells in vitro is suppressed by anti-CD40-, LPS-, and CpG-mediated signals. In addition to inducing NF-κB factors, together with anti-IgM, these signals also support the generation of NFATc1/αA. According to these data and the architecture of its promoter region, the Nfatc1 gene resembles a primary response gene whose induction is affected at the posttranscriptional level.

Loss of the promyelocytic leukemia protein in gastric cancer: implications for IP-10 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

Gastric cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Expression of the tumor suppressor, promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein, is reduced or abolished in gastric carcinomas, in association with an increased level of lymphatic invasion, development of higher pTNM staging, and unfavorable prognosis. Herein, we investigated the relationship between the extent of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the status of PML protein expression in advanced gastric carcinoma. We observed higher numbers of infiltrating T-cells in gastric carcinoma tissues in which PML expression was reduced or abolished, compared to tissues positive for PML. The extent of T-cell migration toward culture supernatants obtained from interferon-gamma (IFN-γ-stimulated gastric carcinoma cell lines was additionally affected by expression of PML in vitro. Interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10/CXCL10) expression was increased in gastric carcinoma tissues displaying reduced PML levels. Moreover, both Pml knockout and knockdown cells displayed enhanced IP-10 mRNA and protein expression in the presence of IFN-γ. PML knockdown increased IFN-γ-mediated Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-1 (STAT-1) binding to the IP-10 promoter, resulting in elevated transcription of the IP-10 gene. Conversely, PML IV protein expression suppressed IP-10 promoter activation. Based on these results, we propose that loss of PML protein expression in gastric cancer cells contributes to increased IP-10 transcription via enhancement of STAT-1 activity, which, in turn, promotes lymphocyte trafficking within tumor regions.

NFATc1 regulates PD-1 expression upon T cell activation

PD-1 is a transmembrane protein involved in the regulation of immunological tolerance. Multiple studies have reported an association between high levels of PD-1 expressed on T cell surfaces and exhaustion in lymphocyte populations when challenged by chronic viral infections, such as HIV. By using model systems consisting of murine EL4 cells, which constitutively express PD-1, and primary murine CD8 T cells that express PD-1 upon T cell stimulation, we have identified two tissue-specific hypersensitive sites at the 5' CR of the PD-1 locus. Gene reporter assays in CD8 T cells have shown that one of these sites has robust transcriptional activity in response to cell stimulation. Cell treatment with the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine A or a NFAT-specific inhibitor led to a sharp reduction in PD-1 expression in the constitutive and inducible systems. Furthermore, analysis of this region by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed NFATc1 binding associated with gene activation in EL4 and primary CD8 T cells. Mutation of the NFATc1 binding site in PD-1 reporter constructs resulted in a complete loss of promoter activity. Together, these results demonstrate that PD-1 gene regulation occurs in part via the recruitment of NFATc1 to a novel regulatory element at the pdcd1 locus and provides the molecular mechanism responsible for the induction of PD-1 in response to T cell stimulation.

Regulation of mouse inducible costimulator (ICOS) expression by Fyn-NFATc2 and ERK signaling in T cells

The inducible costimulator (ICOS), a member of the CD28 family of costimulatory molecules, is rapidly induced upon T cell activation. Although the critical role of ICOS in costimulating T cell responses is well documented, little is known of the intracellular signaling pathways and mechanisms that regulate ICOS expression. Here, we report that Fyn, NFAT, and ERK signaling influence ICOS expression as various chemical inhibitors, such as PP2 that targets Src kinases, U0126 that targets MEK1/2, and cyclosporin A or FK506 that targets calcineurin and thereby affects NFAT, attenuate T cell receptor-mediated ICOS induction. Moreover, ectopic expression of NFATc2 or a constitutively active MEK2 amplifies ICOS transcription and transactivates a 288-bp core region of the icos promoter in luciferase reporter assays. We also identify a site on the icos promoter that is sensitive to ERK signaling and further show that NFATc2 can bind the icos promoter in vivo and that this binding is diminished when Fyn signaling is ablated. The normal activation of ERK but reduced nuclear translocation of NFATc2 in Fyn(-/-) CD4(+) T cells further suggest that Fyn and NFATc2 act in a common axis, separate from that involving ERK, to drive ICOS transcription. Taken together, our findings indicate that Fyn-calcineurin-NFATc2 and MEK2-ERK1/2 are two independent signaling pathways that cooperate to control T cell receptor-mediated ICOS induction.

Inhibition of the Calcineurin-NFAT Interaction by Small Organic Molecules Reflects Binding at an Allosteric Site

Transcriptional signaling from the Ca(2+)-calmodulin-activated phosphatase calcineurin to its substrate NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells, also termed NFATc) is critically dependent on a protein-protein docking interaction between calcineurin and the PXIXIT motif in NFAT. Several inhibitors of NFAT-calcineurin association (INCA compounds) prevent binding of NFAT or the peptide ligand PVIVIT to calcineurin. Here we show that the binding site on calcineurin for INCA1, INCA2, and INCA6 is centered on cysteine 266 of calcineurin Aalpha and does not coincide with the core PXIXIT-binding site. Although ample evidence indicates that INCA1 and INCA2 react covalently with cysteine 266, covalent derivatization alone is not sufficient for maximal inhibition of the calcineurin-PVIVIT interaction, because the maleimide INCA12 reacts with the same site and produces only very modest inhibition. Thus, inhibition arises through an allosteric change affecting the PXIXIT docking site, which may be assisted by covalent binding but depends on other specific features of the ligand. The spatial arrangement of the binding sites for PVIVIT and INCA makes it probable that the change in conformation involves the beta11-beta12 loop of calcineurin. The finding that an allosteric site controls NFAT binding opens new alternatives for inhibition of calcineurin-NFAT signaling.

From pharmacokinetics to pharmacogenomics: a new approach to tailor immunosuppressive therapy

One of the main tasks in the management of organ transplantation is the optimization of immunosuppressive therapy, in order to provide therapeutic efficacy limiting drug-related toxicity. In the past years major efforts have been carried out to define therapeutic windows based on blood/plasma levels of each immunosuppressant relating those concentrations to drug dosing and clinical events. Although this traditional approach is able to identify environmental and nongenetic factors that can influence drug exposure during the course of treatment, it presents limitations. Therefore, complementary strategies are advocated. The advent of the genomic era gives birth to pharmacogenomics, a science that studies how the genome as a whole, including single genes as well as gene-to-gene interactions, may affect the action of a drug. This science is of particular importance for drugs characterized by a narrow therapeutic index, such as the immunosuppressants. Preliminary studies focused on polymorphisms of genes encoding for enzymes actively involved in drug metabolism, drug transport and pharmacological target. Pharmacogenomics holds promise for improvement in the ability to individualize immunosuppressive therapy based on the patient's genetic profile, and can be viewed as a support to traditional therapeutic drug monitoring. However, the clinical applicability of this approach is still to be proven.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 inhibits integrin-mediated stimulation

The negative role exerted by cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) in the regulation of T-cell activity, as induced by T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 and CD28 costimulation, has been widely described. In the present work we investigated the role of CTLA-4 in the control of cell activation, as induced by costimulation of the adhesion molecule lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) in murine CD4+ T cells. Results show that CTLA-4 engagement inhibits interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, not only when induced by CD3/CD28 costimulation, but also when CD4+ T cells are costimulated by anti-CD3 and anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). LFA-1 has been described to induce Ca2+ mobilization also in the absence of TCR engagement. Moreover, we found that CTLA-4 engagement negatively affects Ca2+ mobilization and NF-AT activation, as induced by LFA-1 engagement alone. PLCgamma1 phosphorylation was also dampened within minutes after CTLA-4 engagement. Altogether these data indicate that through the control of signals induced by different receptors, CTLA-4 could be a global attenuator of T-cell activation.

The Ca(2+)-calmodulin-activated protein phosphatase calcineurin negatively regulates EGF receptor signaling in Drosophila development

Calcineurin is a Ca(2+)-calmodulin-activated, Ser-Thr protein phosphatase that is essential for the translation of Ca(2+) signals into changes in cell function and development. We carried out a dominant modifier screen in the Drosophila eye using an activated form of the catalytic subunit to identify new targets, regulators, and functions of calcineurin. An examination of 70,000 mutagenized flies yielded nine specific complementation groups, four that enhanced and five that suppressed the activated calcineurin phenotype. The gene canB2, which encodes the essential regulatory subunit of calcineurin, was identified as a suppressor group, demonstrating that the screen was capable of identifying genes relevant to calcineurin function. We demonstrated that a second suppressor group was sprouty, a negative regulator of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Wing and eye phenotypes of ectopic activated calcineurin and genetic interactions with components of signaling pathways suggested a role for calcineurin in repressing Egf receptor/Ras signal transduction. On the basis of our results, we propose that calcineurin, upon activation by Ca(2+)-calmodulin, cooperates with other factors to negatively regulate Egf receptor signaling at the level of sprouty and the GTPase-activating protein Gap1.

Identification and characterization of a highly conserved calcineurin binding protein, CBP1/calcipressin, in Cryptococcus neoformans

Calcineurin is the conserved target of the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A and FK506. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we identified a novel calcineurin binding protein, CBP1, from the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. We show that CBP1 binds to calcineurin in vitro and in vivo, and FKBP12-FK506 inhibits CBP1 binding to calcineurin. Cryptococcus neoformans cbp1 mutant strains exhibit modest defects in growth under stress conditions and virulence, similar to but less severe than the phenotypes of calcineurin mutants. Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants lacking the CBP1 homolog RCN1 are, like calcineurin mutants, sensitive to lithium cation stress. CBP1 shares a central peptide sequence motif, SPPxSPP, with related proteins in S.CEREVISIAE:, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans and humans, and peptides containing this motif altered calcineurin activity in vitro. Interestingly, the human CBP1 homolog DSCR1 is encoded by the Down's syndrome candidate region interval on chromosome 21, is highly expressed in the heart and central nervous system, and may play a role in calcineurin functions in heart development, neurite extension and memory.

Genetic conservation of the immunophilin-binding domains of human calcineurin A1 and A2

Calcineurin a calmodulin-dependent phosphatase plays a critical role in calcium-dependent activation of T-lymphocytes and is the major target for the inhibitory actions of the immunosuppressive drugs Tacrolimus (FK506) and Cyclosporin A (CsA). Calcineurin is a dimeric protein consisting of distinct A (catalytic) and B (regulatory) subunits. In humans two separate genes, CNA1 and CNA2, encode the calcineurin A (CNA) subunit. The region of CNA that interacts with Calcineurin B, calmodulin, and immunosuppressive drugs bound to their receptors--the immunophilins--has been identified to amino acids 281-414 (Greengard P, Allen PB, Nairin AC. Beyond the dopamine receptor: the DARPP-32/protein phosphatase-1 cascade. Neuron 1999;23:435). Our working hypothesis was that the differences in patient response to calcineurin inhibitors could be a consequence of inherited variations within their CNA genes. Single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of cDNAs derived from the coding region for amino acids 281-414 of CNA1 and CNA2 in 32 healthy Caucasians did not detect polymorphic variations within these genes. These results suggest that this region is highly conserved and cannot account for individual variation in response of patients to FK506 and CsA treatment.

Synergism between the calmodulin-binding and autoinhibitory domains on calcineurin is essential for the induction of their phosphatase activity

Elevation of the intracellular calcium concentration is necessary for cell growth and the activation of several lymphokine genes. The immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin A and FK506 profoundly inhibit the calcium-dependent signaling pathway in T lymphocytes by interfering with the activity of the calcium/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase, calcineurin (CN). Little is known, however, about how activation of CN enzyme activity or interaction with its substrate, nuclear factor of activated T cell (NF-AT), is regulated. We show here that the binding of CaM to CN may affect the conformation of CN at both the CaM-binding and the autoinhibitory (AI) domains and that this is critical for activation of CN to dephosphorylate NF-AT. Dissociation of the AI domain from the enzyme active site on CN leads to expose a binding site for NF-AT at the N terminus of CN and allows the CN binding to NF-AT. Since the cytoplasmic form of NF-AT can interact with CN mutants lacking enzyme activity, the interaction of the two molecules is independent of CN enzyme activity and occurs prior to the dephosphorylation of NF-AT. Dephosphorylation converts NF-AT from the cytoplasmic to the nuclear form by exposing the DNA-binding domain on NF-AT, and the nuclear form of NF-AT brings CN together into the nuclei. We therefore propose that the activation of CN by the CaM binding independently regulates the interaction with NF-AT and the dephosphorylation of NF-AT.

NFAT1 enhances HIV-1 gene expression in primary human CD4 T cells

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a potent inhibitor of the NFAT family of transcription factors that enhance T cell activation. The observation that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive transplant recipients have a reduced HIV-1 viral burden during treatment with CsA suggested that NFAT may play a direct role in enhancing transcription of the HIV-1 viral genome. Two sets of NFAT binding sites were identified in the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter by in vitro footprinting with full-length recombinant NFAT protein, and gel shift analysis of nuclear protein from polyclonally activated primary CD4 T cells revealed specific binding of NFAT1 to the NFkappaB binding sites of the HIV-1 LTR. Activation of primary CD4 T cells transiently transfected with a HIV-1 LTR luciferase reporter plasmid, lacking the NFAT binding sites in the upstream putative negative regulatory element but maintaining the NFkappaB/NFAT sites, demonstrated increased HIV-1 gene expression when cotransfected with a NFAT1 expression vector. Moreover, CsA, FK506, and a dominant-negative NFAT1 protein independently inhibited HIV-1 LTR promoter activity in CD4 T cells stimulated with phorbol ester and calcium ionophore. In primary human CD4 T cells, CsA also inhibited promoter activity directed by multimers of binding sites for NFAT, while having no effect on NFkappaB multimer-driven promoter activity. Increasing NFAT1 levels in CD4 T cells transiently transfected with a HIV-1 provirus also increased p24 protein expression. Thus, NFAT may be a target for prevention of HIV-1 LTR-directed gene expression in human CD4 T cells.

Calcineurin. Structure, function, and inhibition

Calcineurin is a serine-threonine specific Ca(2+)-calmodulin-activated protein phosphatase that is conserved from yeast to humans. Remarkably, this enzyme is the common target for two novel and structurally unrelated immunosuppressive antifungal drugs, cyclosporin A and FK506. Both drugs form complexes with abundant intracellular binding proteins, cyclosporin A with cyclophilin A and FK506 with FKBP 12, which bind to and inhibit calcineurin. The X-ray structure of an FKPB12-FK506-calcineurin AB ternary complex reveals that FKBP12-FK506 binds in a hydophobic groove between the calcineurin A catalytic and the regulatory B subunit, in accord with biochemical and genetic studies on inhibitor action. Calcineurin plays a key role in regulating the transcription factor NF-AT during T-cell activation, and in mediating responses of microorganisms to cation stress. These findings highlight the potential of yeast genetic studies to define novel drug targets and elucidate conserved elements of signal transduction cascades.

Cabin 1, a negative regulator for calcineurin signaling in T lymphocytes

Calcineurin plays a pivotal role in the T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signal transduction pathway and serves as a common target for the immunosuppressants FK506 and cyclosporin A. We report the identification of a novel endogenous calcineurin binding protein named Cabin 1 that inhibits calcineurin-mediated signal transduction. The interaction between Cabin 1 and calcineurin is dependent on PKC activation. Overexpression of Cabin 1 or its N-terminal truncation mutants inhibits the transcriptional activation of calcineurin-responsive elements in the interleukin-2 promoter and blocks dephosphorylation of NF-AT upon T cell activation. These results suggest a negative regulatory role for Cabin 1 in calcineurin signaling and provide a possible mechanism of feedback inhibition of TCR signaling through cross-talk between protein kinases and calcineurin.

Polyomavirus middle T antigen as a probe for T cell antigen receptor-coupled signaling pathways

Stimulation of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) triggers a complex series of signaling events that culminate in T cell activation and proliferation. The complex structure of the TCR has hindered efforts to link specific signaling events induced by TCR cross-linkage to downstream activation responses, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene transcription. Previous studies have shown that the polyomavirus-derived oncoprotein, middle T antigen (mT), transforms rodent fibroblasts by interacting with and activating several cytoplasmic signaling proteins (Src kinases, phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma1, Shc, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) implicated in cell growth control. In this study, we demonstrate that expression of mT activates Jurkat T cells, as measured by increases in IL-2 promoter- and NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells)-dependent reporter gene transcription. The transcriptional response provoked by mT was blocked by the immunosuppressive drug FK506, a potent inhibitor of TCR-mediated IL-2 gene expression. Mutations that disrupted the binding of mT to Src kinases or PLC-gamma1 abrogated the ability of mT to deliver the signals needed for IL-2 promoter activation. In contrast, a mT mutant that failed to bind PI3-K induced a markedly elevated transcriptional response in Jurkat cells, whereas mutation of the Shc binding site in mT had little effect on the transactivating potential of this viral oncoprotein. Additional studies demonstrated that the association of mT with PLC-gamma1 was necessary and sufficient to activate both Ca2+- and Ras-dependent signaling cascades in Jurkat cells. These results indicate that PLC-gamma1 activation plays pivotal and pleiotropic roles in the stimulation of IL-2 gene expression, whereas activation of PI3-K negatively modulates this response in Jurkat T cells.

Consistent transient transfection of DNA into non-transformed human and murine T-lymphocytes

The ability to analyze transcriptional regulation in non-transformed T-cells has been hampered by the inability to reproducibly transiently transfect these cells with DNA constructs. We have previously demonstrated that normal human whole mononuclear and CD4 T-cells can be consistently transiently transfected with plasmid DNA. Human cells were most receptive to plasmid DNA uptake between 19.5 and 20 h after prestimulation with a submitogenic dose of the polyclonal T-cell activator, PHA. Here we report an alteration and optimization of this protocol for non-transformed murine splenic T-cells, using concanavalin A instead of PHA as the preactivation stimulus. When coupled with the high sensitivity of luciferase reporter gene constructs, this protocol facilitates the analysis of a variety of T-cell-specific promoters in non-transformed T-cells. In addition, we directly demonstrate that murine T-cells are specifically transiently transfected among a population of whole mononuclear cells by using an expression vector for green fluorescent protein.

A negative role for phosphoinositide 3-kinase in T-cell antigen receptor function

BACKGROUND

A delicate balance between positive and negative regulatory mechanisms during T-cell activation determines the specificity and magnitude of an immune response. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) is activated by a diverse set of receptors that determine T-cell function, including the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR), the costimulatory receptor CD28, and negative regulators of T-cell activation such as CTLA-4. PI 3-kinase is also regulated by the haematopoietic cytokines that determine T-cell differentiation and lymphocyte proliferation. PI 3-kinase can thus dynamically influence the outcome of the immune reactions at various stages. In this study, we investigated the importance of PI 3-kinase in TCR-directed T-cell activation using activated or inhibitory versions of PI 3-kinase.

RESULTS

Certain aspects of TCR responses such as the induction of transcriptional activity of AP1 and serum response factor were not affected by expression of the mutant forms of PI 3-kinase. We found, however, that PI 3-kinase profoundly influenced the transactivation capacity of 'nuclear factor of activated T cells' (NF-AT) elicited by the TCR: expression of an activated form of PI 3-kinase inhibited TCR-mediated NF-AT responses, whereas expression of a dominant negative mutant of PI 3-kinase potently enhanced TCR-controlled NF-AT induction. These effects of PI 3-kinase were not mediated by previously identified PI 3-kinase effectors, such as protein kinase B, a positive regulator of PI 3-kinase, or the GTPase Rac, and are therefore likely to involve a novel, as yet unknown, effector molecule.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results establish that PI 3-kinase can both positively and negatively regulate T-cell function, and uncover a previously unrecognized function for PI 3-kinase in T cells as a selective negative regulator of TCR-signalling events and therefore as a determinant of T-cell homeostasis.

Nuclear localization of NF-ATc by a calcineurin-dependent, cyclosporin-sensitive intramolecular interaction

The NF-AT family of transcription factors participates in the regulation of early immune response genes such as IL-2, IL-4, CD40 ligand, and Fas ligand in response to Ca2+/calcineurin signals initiated at the antigen receptor. Calcineurin activation leads to the rapid translocation of NF-AT family members from cytoplasm to nucleus, an event that is blocked by the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin A and FK506. We show that translocation requires two redundant nuclear localization sequences and that one sequence is in an intramolecular association with phosphorserines in a conserved motif located at the amino terminus of each NF-AT protein. Mutation of serines in this motif in NF-ATc both disrupts this intramolecular interaction and leads to nuclear localization, suggesting a model of NF-AT nuclear import in which dephosphorylation by calcineurin causes exposure of two nuclear localization sequences.

Transcription factors of the NFAT family: regulation and function

As targets for the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin A and FK506, transcription factors of the NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) family have been the focus of much attention. NFAT proteins, which are expressed in most immune-system cells, play a pivotal role in the transcription of cytokine genes and other genes critical for the immune response. The activity of NFAT proteins is tightly regulated by the calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, a primary target for inhibition by cyclosporin A and FK506. Calcineurin controls the translocation of NFAT proteins from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of activated cells by interacting with an N-terminal regulatory domain conserved in the NFAT family. The DNA-binding domains of NFAT proteins resemble those of Rel-family proteins, and Rel and NFAT proteins show some overlap in their ability to bind to certain regulatory elements in cytokine genes. NFAT is also notable for its ability to bind cooperatively with transcription factors of the AP-1 (Fos/Jun) family to composite NFAT:AP-1 sites, found in the regulatory regions of many genes that are inducibly transcribed by immune-system cells. This review discusses recent data on the diversity of the NFAT family of transcription factors, the regulation of NFAT proteins within cells, and the cooperation of NFAT proteins with other transcription factors to regulate the expression of inducible genes.

Competitive inhibition of calcineurin phosphatase activity by its autoinhibitory domain

Calcineurin (protein phosphatase 2B), a calmodulin- and calcium-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase, appears to be regulated by a C-terminal autoinhibitory domain. A 25 amino acid peptide derived from this domain inhibits calcineurin phosphatase activity in vitro. Here we show that a 97 amino acid fragment of the calcineurin A alpha C-terminus is approx. 8-fold more potent than the shorter peptide in calcineurin inhibition experiments. Mutation of an evolutionarily conserved Asp to Asn, previously shown to disrupt calcium-dependent signalling and calcineurin regulation in T-lymphocytes, greatly reduced inhibition by the autoinhibitory domain in vitro. Kinetic analysis of wild-type and mutated autoinhibitory domains show that both are competitive inhibitors of calcineurin phosphatase activity with Ki values of 5.0 +/- 0.2 microM and 36.0 +/- 3.7 microM respectively. This suggests intrasteric regulation of calcineurin, with the autoinhibitory domains interacting at the active site of the enzyme. The competitive behaviour of the autoinhibitory domains contrasts with the mechanism of calcineurin inhibition by immunosuppressant-immunophilin complexes, which have been shown to bind to calcineurin at a region removed from the active site.

Interaction of calcineurin with a domain of the transcription factor NFAT1 that controls nuclear import

The nuclear import of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-family transcription factors is initiated by the protein phosphatase calcineurin. Here we identify a regulatory region of NFAT1, N terminal to the DNA-binding domain, that controls nuclear import of NFAT1. The regulatory region of NFAT1 binds directly to calcineurin, is a substrate for calcineurin in vitro, and shows regulated subcellular localization identical to that of full-length NFAT1. The corresponding region of NFATc likewise binds calcineurin, suggesting that the efficient activation of NFAT1 and NFATc by calcineurin reflects a specific targeting of the phosphatase to these proteins. The presence in other NFAT-family transcription factors of several sequence motifs from the regulatory region of NFAT1, including its probable nuclear localization sequence, indicates that a conserved protein domain may control nuclear import of all NFAT proteins.

Recombinant NFAT1 (NFATp) is regulated by calcineurin in T cells and mediates transcription of several cytokine genes

Transcription factors of the NFAT family play a key role in the transcription of cytokine genes and other genes during the immune response. We have identified two new isoforms of the transcription factor NFAT1 (previously termed NFATp) that are the predominant isoforms expressed in murine and human T cells. When expressed in Jurkat T cells, recombinant NFAT1 is regulated, as expected, by the calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, and its function is inhibited by the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A (CsA). Transactivation by recombinant NFAT1 in Jurkat T cells requires dual stimulation with ionomycin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; this activity is potentiated by coexpression of constitutively active calcineurin and is inhibited by CsA. Immunocytochemical analysis indicates that recombinant NFAT1 localizes in the cytoplasm of transiently transfected T cells and translocates into the nucleus in a CsA-sensitive manner following ionomycin stimulation. When expressed in COS cells, however, NFAT1 is capable of transactivation, but it is not regulated correctly: its subcellular localization and transcriptional function are not affected by stimulation of the COS cells with ionomycin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Recombinant NFAT1 can mediate transcription of the interleukin-2, interleukin-4, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor promoters in T cells, suggesting that NFAT1 contributes to the CsA-sensitive transcription of these genes during the immune response.

The S100 family of EF-hand calcium-binding proteins: functions and pathology

Calcium lons as second messengers control many biological processes, at least in part, via interaction with a large number of Ca(2+)-binding proteins. One class of these proteins shares a common Ca(2+)-binding motif, the EF-hand, Here, we describe some functional aspects of EF-hand proteins, which have been found recently in different cellular compartments. Novel links between EF-hand proteins, particularly S100 proteins, and specific diseases are now emerging.