1. Inhibition of G-protein βγ signaling enhances T cell receptor-stimulated interleukin 2 transcription in CD4+ T helper cells
- Author
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Braden J. Ott, Catherine H. Berlot, Evan A. Yost, Thomas R. Hynes, and Cassandra M. Hartle
- Subjects
Interleukin 2 ,Time Factors ,Transcription, Genetic ,T cell ,Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ,lcsh:Medicine ,Biology ,Jurkat cells ,Cell Line ,03 medical and health sciences ,Interleukin 21 ,0302 clinical medicine ,GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits ,medicine ,Humans ,Cytotoxic T cell ,Gene Silencing ,RNA, Messenger ,RNA, Small Interfering ,Promoter Regions, Genetic ,lcsh:Science ,030304 developmental biology ,G protein-coupled receptor ,0303 health sciences ,Multidisciplinary ,NFATC Transcription Factors ,GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits ,lcsh:R ,NFAT ,T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ,Molecular biology ,Protein Transport ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Gene Expression Regulation ,Xanthenes ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Interleukin-2 ,Calcium ,lcsh:Q ,Research Article ,Signal Transduction ,medicine.drug - Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling modulates the expression of cytokines that are drug targets for immune disorders. However, although GPCRs are common targets for other diseases, there are few GPCR-based pharmaceuticals for inflammation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether targeting G-protein βγ (Gβγ) complexes could provide a useful new approach for modulating interleukin 2 (IL-2) levels in CD4+ T helper cells. Gallein, a small molecule inhibitor of Gβγ, increased levels of T cell receptor (TCR)-stimulated IL-2 mRNA in primary human naïve and memory CD4+ T helper cells and in Jurkat human CD4+ leukemia T cells. Gβ1 and Gβ2 mRNA accounted for >99% of Gβ mRNA, and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing of Gβ1 but not Gβ2 enhanced TCR-stimulated IL-2 mRNA increases. Blocking Gβγ enhanced TCR-stimulated increases in IL-2 transcription without affecting IL-2 mRNA stability. Blocking Gβγ also enhanced TCR-stimulated increases in nuclear localization of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT1), NFAT transcriptional activity, and levels of intracellular Ca2+. Potentiation of IL-2 transcription required continuous Gβγ inhibition during at least two days of TCR stimulation, suggesting that induction or repression of additional signaling proteins during T cell activation and differentiation might be involved. The potentiation of TCR-stimulated IL-2 transcription that results from blocking Gβγ in CD4+ T helper cells could have applications for autoimmune diseases.
- Published
- 2015