Type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase β associates with TCR-CD3 ζ chain in Jurkat cells

Silencing of type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase β stabilizes prostate apoptosis response-4 and induces apoptosis in cancer cells

Type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase β (PtdIns 4-kinase II β) is an enigma among the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase family. The role of PtdIns 4-kinase II β in MCF-7 cells was addressed with the help of short hairpin RNA (shRNA). PtdIns 4-kinase II β shRNA transfection increased pan-caspase activity and induced apoptosis in cancerous MCF-7 cells. Non-cancerous MCF-10A cells were resistant to PtdIns 4-kinase II β shRNA-induced apoptosis. Caspase 8 and 9 inhibitors rescued MCF-7 cells from apoptosis. Shotgun proteomic studies with Flag-tagged PtdIns 4-kinase II β immunoprecipitates showed tumor suppressor prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) as one of the interacting proteins in HEK293 cells. In reciprocal experiments, Par-4 antibodies co-precipitated PtdIns 4-kinase II β from MCF-7 cells. Deletion of membrane localization motif (ΔCCPCC) or a mutation in ATP-binding region (D304A) of PtdIns 4-kinase II β did not affect its interaction with Par-4. Pull-down assays with GST-PtdIns 4-kinase II β-truncated mutants showed that the region between 101 and 215 amino acid residues is essential for interaction with Par-4. At molecular level, PtdIns 4-kinase II β shRNA transfection increased Par-4 stability, its nuclear localization and inhibition of NF-κB binding to target DNA. Knocking down of Par-4 with siRNA (small interfering RNA) rescued MCF-7 cells from PtdIns 4-kinase II β shRNA-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that PtdIns 4-kinase II β may be a novel regulator of Par-4 through protein–protein interactions. These studies have potential implications in cancer therapy.

Lipopolysaccharide Upregulates Palmitoylated Enzymes of the Phosphatidylinositol Cycle: An Insight from Proteomic Studies

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that induces strong proinflammatory reactions of mammals. These processes are triggered upon sequential binding of LPS to CD14, a GPI-linked plasma membrane raft protein, and to the TLR4/MD2 receptor complex. We have found earlier that upon LPS binding, CD14 triggers generation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P₂], a lipid controlling subsequent proinflammatory cytokine production. Here we show that stimulation of RAW264 macrophage-like cells with LPS induces global changes of the level of fatty-acylated, most likely palmitoylated, proteins. Among the acylated proteins that were up-regulated in those conditions were several enzymes of the phosphatidylinositol cycle. Global profiling of acylated proteins was performed by metabolic labeling of RAW264 cells with 17ODYA, an analogue of palmitic acid functionalized with an alkyne group, followed by detection and enrichment of labeled proteins using biotin-azide/streptavidin and their identification with mass spectrometry. This proteomic approach revealed that 154 fatty-acylated proteins were up-regulated, 186 downregulated, and 306 not affected in cells stimulated with 100 ng/ml LPS for 60 min. The acylated proteins affected by LPS were involved in diverse biological functions, as found by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Detailed studies of 17ODYA-labeled and immunoprecipitated proteins revealed that LPS induces S-palmitoylation, hence activation, of type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4KII) β, which phosphorylates phosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate, a PI(4,5)P₂ precursor. Silencing of PI4KIIβ and PI4KIIα inhibited LPS-induced expression and production of proinflammatory cytokines, especially in the TRIF-dependent signaling pathway of TLR4. Reciprocally, this LPS-induced signaling pathway was significantly enhanced after overexpression of PI4KIIβ or PI4KIIα; this was dependent on palmitoylation of the kinases. However, the S-palmitoylation of PI4KIIα, hence its activity, was constitutive in RAW264 cells. Taken together the data indicate that LPS triggers S-palmitoylation and activation of PI4KIIβ, which generates PI(4)P involved in signaling pathways controlling production of proinflammatory cytokines.

Type II PtdIns 4-kinase β associates with CD4-p56lck complex and is involved in CD4 receptor signaling

Type II phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 4-kinases are involved in the synthesis of PtdIns 4-phosphates and modulate various cell functions like, intracellular signaling, cytoskeletal rearrangements, vesicular trafficking, and pathogen invasion. In CD3 receptor activated T cells, a type II PtdIns 4-kinase β is recruited to CD3 receptor zeta and plays a role in intracellular calcium release and probably in actin cytoskeleton reorganization. T cell receptor mediated activation is supported by CD4 receptor. The role of type II PtdIns 4-kinase β in CD4 receptor-mediated signaling was addressed in the present manuscript. Crosslinking of CD4 receptors with monoclonal antibodies showed an increase in CD4-associated PtdIns 4-kinase activity and requires p56(lck) activity. Biochemical characterization suggests that it belongs to type II PtdIns 4-kinase family. shRNA mediated knockdown of type II PtdIns 4-kinase β showed abrogation of CD4 receptor induced intracellular calcium release. These results suggest that type II PtdIns 4-kinase β plays an integral part in CD4 receptor-mediated signaling.

Sex-dependent genetic effects on immune responses to a parasitic nematode

BACKGROUND

Many disease aetiologies have sex specific effects, which have important implications for disease management. It is now becoming increasingly evident that such effects are the result of the differential expression of autosomal genes rather than sex-specific genes. Such sex-specific variation in the response to Trichuris muris, a murine parasitic nematode infection and model for the human parasitic nematode T. trichiura, has been well documented, however, the underlying genetic causes of these differences have been largely neglected. We used the BXD mouse set of recombinant inbred strains to identify sex-specific loci that contribute to immune phenotypes in T. muris infection.

RESULTS

Response phenotypes to T. muris infection were found to be highly variable between different lines of BXD mice. A significant QTL on chromosome 5 (TM5) associated with IFN-γ production was found in male mice but not in female mice. This QTL was in the same location as a suggestive QTL for TNF-α and IL-6 production in male mice suggesting a common control of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. A second QTL was identified on chromosome 4 (TM4) affecting worm burden in both male and female cohorts. We have identified several genes as potential candidates for modifying responses to T. muris infection.

CONCLUSIONS

We have used the largest mammalian genetic model system, the BXD mouse population, to identify candidate genes with sex-specific effects in immune responses to T. muris infection. Some of these genes may be differentially expressed in male and female mice leading to the difference in immune response between the sexes reported in previous studies. Our study further highlights the importance of considering sex as an important factor in investigations of immune response at the genome-wide level, in particular the bias that can be introduced when generalizing results obtained from only one sex or a mixed sex population. Rather, analyses of interaction effects between sex and genotype should be part of future studies.

Type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases interact with FcεRIγ subunit in RBL-2H3 cells

Ligation of high-affinity IgE receptor I (FcεRI) on RBL-2H3 cells leads to recruitment of FcεRI and type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases (PtdIns 4-kinases) into lipid rafts. Lipid raft integrity is required for the activation of type II PtdIns 4-kinases and signal transduction through FcεRIγ during RBL-2H3 cell activation. However, the molecular mechanism by which PtdIns 4-kinases are coupled to FcεRI signaling is elusive. Here, we report association of type II PtdIns 4-kinase activity with FcεRIγ subunit in anti-FcεRIγ immunoprecipitates. FcεRIγ-associated PtdIns 4-kinase activity increases threefold upon FcεRI ligation in anti-FcεRIγ immunoprecipitates. Biochemical characterization of PtdIns 4-kinase activity associated with FcεRIγ reveals that it is a type II PtdIns 4-kinases. Canonical tyrosine residues mutation in FcεRIγ ITAM (Y65 and Y76) reveals that these two tyrosine residues in γ subunit are required for its interaction with type II PtdIns 4-kinases.

Mammalian phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases as modulators of membrane trafficking and lipid signaling networks

The four mammalian phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases modulate inter-organelle lipid trafficking, phosphoinositide signalling and intracellular vesicle trafficking. In addition to catalytic domains required for the synthesis of PI4P, the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases also contain isoform-specific structural motifs that mediate interactions with proteins such as AP-3 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch, and such structural differences determine isoform-specific roles in membrane trafficking. Moreover, different permutations of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase isozymes may be required for a single cellular function such as occurs during distinct stages of GPCR signalling and in Golgi to lysosome trafficking. Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases have recently been implicated in human disease. Emerging paradigms include increased phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase expression in some cancers, impaired functioning associated with neurological pathologies, the subversion of PI4P trafficking functions in bacterial infection and the activation of lipid kinase activity in viral disease. We discuss how the diverse and sometimes overlapping functions of the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases present challenges for the design of isoform-specific inhibitors in a therapeutic context.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) inhibits type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases: a key component in pathways of phosphoinositide turnover

Type II phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 4-kinases produce PtdIns 4-phosphate, an early key signaling molecule in phosphatidylinositol cycle, which is indispensable for T cell activation. Type II PtdIns 4-kinase alpha and beta have similar biochemical properties. To distinguish these isoforms Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been evaluated as a specific inhibitor. EGCG is the major active catechin in green tea having anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic and cancer chemopreventive properties. The precise mechanism of actions and molecular targets of EGCG in early signaling cascades are not well understood. In the present study, we have shown that EGCG inhibits type II PtdIns 4-kinases (α and β isoforms) and PtdIns 3-kinase activity in vitro. EGCG directly bind to both alpha and beta isoforms of type II PtdIns 4-kinases with a Kd of 2.62 μM and 1.02 μM, respectively. Type II PtdIns 4-kinase-EGCG complex have different binding pattern at its excited state. Both isoforms showed significant change in helicity upon binding with EGCG. EGCG modulates its effect by interacting with ATP binding pocket; the residues likely to be involved in EGCG binding were predicted by Autodock. Our findings suggest that EGCG inhibits two isoforms and could be a key to regulate T cell activation.

The CD3 zeta subunit contains a phosphoinositide-binding motif that is required for the stable accumulation of TCR-CD3 complex at the immunological synapse

T cell activation involves a cascade of TCR-mediated signals that are regulated by three distinct intracellular signaling motifs located within the cytoplasmic tails of the CD3 chains. Whereas all the CD3 subunits possess at least one ITAM, the CD3 ε subunit also contains a proline-rich sequence and a basic-rich stretch (BRS). The CD3 ε BRS complexes selected phosphoinositides, interactions that are required for normal cell surface expression of the TCR. The cytoplasmic domain of CD3 ζ also contains several clusters of arginine and lysine residues. In this study, we report that these basic amino acids enable CD3 ζ to complex the phosphoinositides PtdIns(3)P, PtdIns(4)P, PtdIns(5)P, PtdIns(3,5)P(2), and PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) with high affinity. Early TCR signaling pathways were unaffected by the targeted loss of the phosphoinositide-binding functions of CD3 ζ. Instead, the elimination of the phosphoinositide-binding function of CD3 ζ significantly impaired the ability of this invariant chain to accumulate stably at the immunological synapse during T cell-APC interactions. Without its phosphoinositide-binding functions, CD3 ζ was concentrated in intracellular structures after T cell activation. Such findings demonstrate a novel functional role for CD3 ζ BRS-phosphoinositide interactions in supporting T cell activation.

Mammalian phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases

Phosphoinositides are lipids that are present in the cytoplasmic leaflet of a cell's plasma and internal membranes and play pivotal roles in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular processes. Phosphoinositides are molecularly diverse due to variable phosphorylation of the hydroxyl groups of their inositol rings. The rapid and reversible configuration of the seven known phosphoinositide species is controlled by a battery of phosphoinositide kinases and phosphoinositide phosphatases, which are thus critical for phosphoinositide isomer-specific localization and functions. Significantly, a given phosphoinositide generated by different isozymes of these phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases can have different biological effects. In mammals, close to 50 genes encode the phosphoinositide kinases and phosphoinositide phosphatases that regulate phosphoinositide metabolism and thus allow cells to respond rapidly and effectively to ever-changing environmental cues. Understanding the distinct and overlapping functions of these phosphoinositide-metabolizing enzymes is important for our knowledge of both normal human physiology and the growing list of human diseases whose etiologies involve these proteins. This review summarizes the structural and biological properties of all the known mammalian phosphoinositide kinases and phosphoinositide phosphatases, as well as their associations with human disorders.

Molecular determinants of activation and membrane targeting of phosphoinositol 4-kinase IIβ

Mammalian cells contain two isoforms of the type II PI4K (phosphoinositol 4-kinase), PI4KIIα and β. These 55 kDa proteins have highly diverse N-terminal regions (approximately residues 1–90) but conserved catalytic domains (approximately from residue 91 to the C-termini). Nearly the entire pool of PI4KIIα behaves as an integral membrane protein, in spite of a lack of a transmembrane domain. This integral association with membranes is due to palmitoylation of a cysteine-rich motif, CCPCC, located within the catalytic domain. Although the CCPCC motif is conserved in PI4KIIβ, only 50% of PI4KIIβ is membrane-associated, and approximately half of this pool is only peripherally attached to the membranes. Growth factor stimulation or overexpression of a constitutively active Rac mutant induces the translocation of a portion of cytosolic PI4KIIβ to plasma membrane ruffles and stimulates its activity. Here, we demonstrate that membrane-associated PI4KIIβ undergoes two modifications, palmitoylation and phosphorylation. The cytosolic pool of PI4KIIβ is not palmitoylated and has much lower lipid kinase activity than the membrane-associated kinase. Although only membrane-associated PI4KIIβ is phosphorylated in the unique N-terminal region, this modification apparently does not influence its membrane binding or activity. A series of truncation mutants and α/β chimaeras were generated to identify regions responsible for the isoform-specific behaviour of the kinases. Surprisingly, the C-terminal approx. 160 residues, and not the diverse N-terminal regions, contain the sites that are most important in determining the different solubilities, palmitoylation states and stimulus-dependent redistributions of PI4KIIα and β.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases: old enzymes with emerging functions

Phosphoinositides account for only a tiny fraction of cellular phospholipids but are extremely important in the regulation of the recruitment and activity of many signaling proteins in cellular membranes. Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 4-kinases generate PtdIns 4-phosphate, the precursor of important regulatory phosphoinositides but also an emerging regulatory molecule in its own right. The four mammalian PtdIns 4-kinases regulate a diverse array of signaling events, as well as vesicular trafficking and lipid transport, but the mechanisms by which their lipid product PtdIns 4-phosphate controls these processes is only beginning to unfold.

Resveratrol inhibits type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase: A key component in pathways of phosphoinositide turn over

Resveratrol has anti-inflammatory, cardio protective and cancer chemopreventive properties. The molecular targets for resveratrol in early signaling cascades are not well understood. Resveratrol inhibits type II PtdIns 4-kinase but not PtdIns 3-kinase activity in vitro. Resveratrol directly binds to the enzyme with a Kd of 7.2 microM. Kinetic studies show that resveratrol competes with PtdIns binding. Inhibition of PtdIns 4-kinase activity by resveratrol/phenylarsine oxide reduces Jurkat cell adhesion to matrigel/fibronectin coated surfaces, suggesting a role for type II PtdIns 4-kinase in lymphocyte infiltration to the sites of inflammation.