Multiple interactions of the cytosolic polyproline region of the CD95 ligand: hints for the reverse signal transduction capacity of a death factor

The CD95/Fas/Apo-1 ligand is expressed on activated lymphocytes, NK cells, platelets, certain immune-privileged cells and some tumor cells and induces apoptosis through the death receptor CD95/Fas/Apo-1. In murine T cells, membrane-bound CD95L (Fas ligand) also acts as a costimulatory receptor to coordinate activation and function in vivo. The molecular basis for this reverse signal transduction is yet unknown. In the present report, we identify individual interaction domains of enzymes and adapter molecules that selectively interact with full-length CD95L from transfectants and human T cells. These results may help to explain the costimulatory capacity of CD95L.

Regulation of activation-induced cell death of mature T-lymphocyte populations

Resting mature T lymphocytes are activated when triggered via their antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) to elicit an appropriate immune response. In contrast, preactivated T cells may undergo activation-induced cell death (AICD) in response to the same signals. along with cell death induced by growth factor deprivation, AICD followed by the elimination of useless or potentially harmful cells preserves homeostasis, leads to the termination of cellular immune responses and ensures peripheral tolerance. T-cell apoptosis and AICD are controlled by survival cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and by death factors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and CD95 ligand (CD95L). In AICD-sensitive T cells, stimulation upregulates expression of one or several death factors, which in turn engage specific death receptors on the same or a neighboring cell. Death receptors are activated by oligomerization to rapidly assemble a number of adapter proteins and enzymes to result in an irreversible activation of proteases and nucleases that culminates in cell death by apoptosis. Increased knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate AICD of lymphocytes opens new immunotherapeutic perspectives for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases, and has implications in other areas such as transplantation medicine and AIDS research.

Differential regulation of activation-induced cell death in individual human T cell clones

BACKGROUND

Restimulation of T lymphocytes via the TCR/CD3 complex can result in CD95/CD95L-dependent activation-induced cell death (AICD). Although the correlation of AICD sensitivity to the T helper 1 phenotype was confirmed in different studies, the underlying mechanism is still debated. Thus, it has been suggested that in Th2 cells, AICD resistance is controlled by a TCR-induced upregulation of the CD95-associated inhibitory phosphatase, FAP-1. We and others demonstrated that AICD resistance is associated with a reduced surface expression of CD95L upon restimulation.

METHODS

Utilizing RT-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry, we analyzed time-dependent changes in levels of CD95L mRNA, cytosolic protein and surface expression in five long-term human T cell clones and polarized helper populations.

RESULTS

We confirm that the inducible CD95L surface expression is lower or absent in all tested AICD-resistant clones as compared to sensitive cells. It is of interest that striking differences with respect to the activation-dependent inducibility of CD95L mRNA expression in individual resistant clones were observed. In addition, alterations in the expression of the inhibitory phosphatase FAP-1 or TCR-dependent changes in CD95 sensitivity in AICD-resistant clones could be ruled out as a mechanism for AICD resistance of human T cell clones.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) The data presented strongly support the previous notion that AICD resistance of human T cell clones is mainly regulated by a differential expression of CD95L. (2) Differential expression of CD95L on individual resistant clones results from a lack of mRNA induction in one set and from a markedly decreased surface expression of translated protein in another set of clones.

SLP-76 binding to p56lck: a role for SLP-76 in CD4-induced desensitization of the TCR/CD3 signaling complex

Nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases and associated substrates play a pivotal role in Ag receptor stimulation of resting cells and in the initiation of activation-induced cell death (AICD) of preactivated T cells. CD4-associated p56lck has been implicated not only in the activation of primary T cells, but also in the inhibition of T cell responses. We have previously shown that CD4+ T cell clones can be rescued from AICD when surface CD4 is engaged before the TCR stimulus. In this study, we show that prevention of AICD is associated with a CD4-dependent inhibition of TCR-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation of the Src homology 2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa (SLP-76) and Vav. We provide evidence for a SLP-76 interaction with Src homology 3 domains of p56lck and identify amino acids 185-194 of SLP-76 as relevant docking site. In view of the multiple functions of p56lck and SLP-76/Vav in the initiation of TCR/CD3/CD4 signaling, we propose a model for the CD4-dependent inhibition of TCR signaling and AICD of preactivated T cells. Our data suggest that preformed activation complexes of adapter proteins and enzymes in the vicinity of the CD4/p56lck complex are no longer available for the TCR signal when CD4 receptors are engaged before TCR stimulation.

Ligation of cell surface CD4 inhibits activation-induced death of human T lymphocytes at the level of Fas ligand expression

Cross-linking of cell surface CD4 molecules by anti-CD4 mAb or HIV-1 gp120/anti-gp120 Ab primes resting T lymphocytes for activation-induced cell death (AICD) triggered via the CD3/TCR complex. In striking contrast, we demonstrate here that preincubation of activated human CD4+ T cells with anti-CD4 mAb consistently inhibited AICD triggered via anti-CD3 mAb or Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A superantigen. Inhibition of AICD of CD4+ T cell clones was also observed with F(ab')2, but not with Fab, of anti-CD4 mAb. Moreover, soluble HIV-1 gp120, but not rIL-16, inhibited AICD stimulated by S. aureus enterotoxin A. In susceptible clones, CD4 ligation prevented the up-regulation of Fas ligand mRNA and cell surface expression in response to anti-CD3 mAb or superantigen stimulation. CD3/TCR-dependent protein tyrosine phosphorylation and cytokine production were also prevented by preceding CD4 ligation. The inhibition of AICD due to the prevention of Fas ligand upregulation reveals a novel immunoregulatory consequence of CD4 ligation that might play a role in HIV infection and in the therapeutic application of anti-CD4 mAb.

Ligation of cell surface CD4 inhibits activation-induced death of human T lymphocytes at the level of Fas ligand expression

Cross-linking of cell surface CD4 molecules by anti-CD4 mAb or HIV-1 gp120/anti-gp120 Ab primes resting T lymphocytes for activation-induced cell death (AICD) triggered via the CD3/TCR complex. In striking contrast, we demonstrate here that preincubation of activated human CD4+ T cells with anti-CD4 mAb consistently inhibited AICD triggered via anti-CD3 mAb or Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A superantigen. Inhibition of AICD of CD4+ T cell clones was also observed with F(ab')2, but not with Fab, of anti-CD4 mAb. Moreover, soluble HIV-1 gp120, but not rIL-16, inhibited AICD stimulated by S. aureus enterotoxin A. In susceptible clones, CD4 ligation prevented the up-regulation of Fas ligand mRNA and cell surface expression in response to anti-CD3 mAb or superantigen stimulation. CD3/TCR-dependent protein tyrosine phosphorylation and cytokine production were also prevented by preceding CD4 ligation. The inhibition of AICD due to the prevention of Fas ligand upregulation reveals a novel immunoregulatory consequence of CD4 ligation that might play a role in HIV infection and in the therapeutic application of anti-CD4 mAb.