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Targeting intracellular inhibiting proteins has been revealed to be a promising strategy to improve CD8 + T cell anti-tumor efficacy. Here, we are focusing on intracellular inhibiting proteins specific to TCR signaling: DOK1 and DOK2 expressed in T cells. We hypothesized that depletion of intracellular inhibition checkpoint DOK1 and DOK2 could improve CD8 + T-cell based cancer therapies. To evaluate the role of DOK1 and DOK2 depletion in physiology and effector function of CD8 + T lymphocytes and in cancer progression, we established a transgenic T cell receptor mouse model specific to melanoma antigen hgp100 (pmel-1 TCR Tg) in WT and Dok1/Dok2 DKO (double KO) mice. We showed that both DOK1 and DOK2 depletion in CD8 + T cells after an in vitro pre-stimulation induced a higher percentage of effector memory T cells as well as an up regulation of TCR signaling cascade- induced by CD3 mAbs, including the increased levels of pAKT and pERK, two major phosphoproteins involved in T cell functions. Interestingly, this improved TCR signaling was not observed in naïve CD8 + T cells. Despite this enhanced TCR signaling essentially shown upon stimulation via CD3 mAbs, pre-stimulated Dok1/Dok2 DKO CD8 + T cells did not show any increase in their activation or cytotoxic capacities against melanoma cell line expressing hgp100 in vitro. Altogether we demonstrate here a novel aspect of the negative regulation by DOK1 and DOK2 proteins in CD8 + T cells. Indeed, our results allow us to conclude that DOK1 and DOK2 have an inhibitory role following long term T cell stimulations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Bone mass is determined by coordinated acts of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which control bone formation and resorption, respectively. Osteoclasts are multinucleated, macrophage/monocyte lineage cells from bone marrow. The Dok-family adaptors Dok-1, Dok-2 and Dok-3 are expressed in the macrophage/monocyte lineage and negatively regulate many signaling pathways, implying roles in osteoclastogenesis. Indeed, mice lacking Dok-1 and Dok-2, the closest homologues with redundant functions, develop osteopenia with increased osteoclast counts compared to the wild-type controls. Here, we demonstrate that Dok-3 knockout (KO) mice also develop osteopenia. However, Dok-3 KO, but not Dok-1/-2 double-KO (DKO), mice develop larger osteoclasts within the normal cell-count range, suggesting a distinctive role for Dok-3. Indeed, Dok-3 KO, but not Dok-1/-2 DKO, bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) generated larger osteoclasts with more nuclei due to augmented cell-to-cell fusion in vitro. In addition, while Dok-1/-2 DKO BMDCs generated more osteoclasts, Dok-1/-2/-3 triple-KO (TKO) BMDCs generated osteoclasts increased in both number and size. Furthermore, Dok-1/-2/-3 TKO mice showed the combined effects of Dok-3 and Dok-1/-2 deficiency: severe osteopenia with more and larger osteoclasts. Together, our findings demonstrate that Dok-3 and Dok-1/-2 play distinctive but cooperative roles in osteoclastogenesis and protect mice from osteopenia, providing physiological and pathophysiological insight into bone homeostasis., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Appropriate immune responses and mucosal barrier functions are required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. Defects in this defense system may lead to inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Downstream of tyrosine kinases 1 (Dok-1) and its closest homolog, Dok-2, are preferentially expressed in immune cells, and play essential roles in the negative regulation of multiple signaling pathways in both innate and adaptive immunity. However, the function of these proteins in intestinal homeostasis remained unclear. Here we show that Dok-1/-2 double knockout (DKO) mice were highly susceptible to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis compared with Dok-1 or Dok-2 single KO and wild type (WT) mice. Furthermore, DSS-treated Dok-1/-2 DKO mice exhibited increased colonic tissue damage accompanied by reduced proliferation of the epithelial cells relative to WT controls, suggesting that Dok-1/-2 DKO mice have defects in the repair of intestinal epithelial lesions. In addition, the levels of the Th17 cytokines IL-17A and IL-22, which have protective roles in DSS-induced colitis, were reduced in DSS-treated Dok-1/-2 DKO mice compared with WT mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Dok-1 and Dok-2 negatively regulate intestinal inflammation, apparently through the induction of IL-17A and IL-22 expression., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Dok proteins are a family of adaptor molecules that have a well defined role in regulating cellular migration, immune responses, and tumor progression. Previous studies have demonstrated that Doks-1 to 3 are expressed in platelets and that Dok-2 is tyrosine-phosphorylated downstream of integrin αIIbβ3, raising the possibility that it participates in integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signaling. We demonstrate that Dok-2 in platelets is primarily phosphorylated by Lyn kinase. Moreover, deficiency of Dok-2 leads to dysregulated integrin αIIbβ3-dependent cytosolic calcium flux and phosphatidylinositol(3,4)P2 accumulation. Although agonist-induced integrin αIIbβ3 affinity regulation was unaltered in Dok-2(-/-) platelets, Dok-2 deficiency was associated with a shear-dependent increase in integrin αIIbβ3 adhesive function, resulting in enhanced platelet-fibrinogen and platelet-platelet adhesive interactions under flow. This increase in adhesion was restricted to discoid platelets and involved the shear-dependent regulation of membrane tethers. Dok-2 deficiency was associated with an increased rate of platelet aggregate formation on thrombogenic surfaces, leading to accelerated thrombus growth in vivo. Overall, this study defines an important role for Dok-2 in regulating biomechanical adhesive function of discoid platelets. Moreover, they define a previously unrecognized prothrombotic mechanism that is not detected by conventional platelet function assays.

STARD10, a member of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR)-related lipid transfer (START) protein family, is highly expressed in the liver and has been shown to transfer phosphatidylcholine. Therefore it has been assumed that STARD10 may function in the secretion of phospholipids into the bile. To help elucidate the physiological role of STARD10, we produced Stard10 knockout mice (Stard10(-/-)) and studied their phenotype. Neither liver content nor biliary secretion of phosphatidylcholine was altered in Stard10(-/-) mice. Unexpectedly, the biliary secretion of bile acids from the liver and the level of taurine-conjugated bile acids in the bile were significantly higher in Stard10(-/-) mice than wild type (WT) mice. In contrast, the levels of the secondary bile acids were lower in the liver of Stard10(-/-) mice, suggesting that the enterohepatic cycling is impaired. STARD10 was also expressed in the gallbladder and small intestine where the expression level of apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) turned out to be markedly lower in Stard10(-/-) mice than in WT mice when measured under fed condition. Consistent with the above results, the fecal excretion of bile acids was significantly increased in Stard10(-/-) mice. Interestingly, PPARα-dependent genes responsible for the regulation of bile acid metabolism were down-regulated in the liver of Stard10(-/-) mice. The loss of STARD10 impaired the PPARα activity and the expression of a PPARα-target gene such as Cyp8b1 in mouse hepatoma cells. These results indicate that STARD10 is involved in regulating bile acid metabolism through the modulation of PPARα-mediated mechanism., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Osteoporosis causes fractures that lead to reduction in the quality of life and it is one of the most prevalent diseases as it affects approximately 10% of the population. One of the important features of osteoporosis is osteopenia. However, its etiology is not fully elucidated. Dok-1 and Dok-2 are adaptor proteins acting downstream of protein tyrosine kinases that are mainly expressed in the cells of hematopoietic lineage. Although these proteins negatively regulate immune system, their roles in bone metabolism are not understood. Here, we analyzed the effects of Dok-1 and Dok-2 double-deficiency on bone. Dok-1/2 deficiency reduced the levels of trabecular and cortical bone mass compared to wildtype. In addition, Dok-1/2 deficiency increased periosteal perimeters and endosteal perimeters of the mid shaft of long bones. Histomorphometric analysis of the bone parameters indicated that Dok-1/2 deficiency did not significantly alter the levels of bone formation parameters including mineralizing surface/bone surface (MS/BS), mineral apposition rate (MAR) and bone formation rate (BFR). In contrast, Dok-1/2 deficiency enhanced the levels of bone resorption parameters including osteoclast number (N.Oc/BS) and osteoclast surface (Oc.S/BS). Analyses of individual osteoclastic activity indicated that Dok-1/2 deficiency enhanced pit formation. Systemically, Dok-1/2 deficiency increased the levels of urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpyr). Search for the target point of the Dok-1/2 deficiency effects on osteoclasts identified that the mutation enhanced sensitivity of osteoclast precursors to macrophage colony-stimulating factor. These data revealed that Dok-1 and Dok-2 deficiency induces osteopenia by activation of osteoclasts., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS), a rare hematological malignancy, is an aggressive neoplasm that responds poorly to therapy. The molecular etiology and pathology of this disease remain unclear, hampering the development of an effective therapy, and there remains a need for more, and more realistic, animal models. HS cells typically show a histiocytic (ie, tissue macrophage-like) morphology and express histiocyte/macrophage markers in the absence of lymphocyte markers. In this study, we report that Dok-1(-/-)Dok-2(-/-)Dok-3(-/-) mice develop HS, but do not exhibit elevated incidence of other types of tumors. These mutant mice showed earlier mortality than wild-type (WT) or the other mutant mice, and this mortality was associated with HS. In total, 17 of 21 tumor-bearing Dok-1(-/-)Dok-2(-/-)Dok-3(-/-) mice necropsied at 25-66 weeks of age showed multiple organ spread, with osteolytic lesions and orthotopic invasion from the bone marrow to skeletal muscle. Tumors from the mice were transplantable. In addition, all Dok-1(-/-)Dok-2(-/-)Dok-3(-/-) mice, but only a small proportion of Dok-3(-/-) mice and no Dok-1(-/-)Dok-2(-/-) mice, exhibited abnormal accumulation of macrophages in the lung on necropsy at 8-12 weeks of age. Macrophages derived from Dok-1(-/-)Dok-2(-/-)Dok-3(-/-) mice displayed an exaggerated proliferative response to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) or granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) compared with WT and mutant controls. Together, these findings indicate that Dok-1, Dok-2, and Dok-3 cooperatively suppress aggressive HS, and commend Dok-1(-/-)Dok-2(-/-)Dok-3(-/-) mice as a useful model for the study of this neoplasia.

The mammalian Dok protein family has seven members (Dok-1-Dok-7). The Dok proteins share structural similarities characterized by the NH2-terminal pleckstrin homology and phosphotyrosine-binding domains followed by SH2 target motifs in the COOH-terminal moiety, indicating an adapter function. Indeed, Dok-1 was originally identified as a 62 kDa protein that binds with p120 rasGAP, a potent inhibitor of Ras, upon tyrosine phosphorylation by a variety of protein tyrosine kinases. Among the Dok family, only Dok-1, Dok-2, and Dok-3 are preferentially expressed in hematopoietic/immune cells. Dok-1 and its closest relative Dok-2 act as negative regulators of the Ras-Erk pathway downstream of many immunoreceptor-mediated signaling systems, and it is believed that recruitment of p120 rasGAP by Dok-1 and Dok-2 is critical to their negative regulation. By contrast, Dok-3 does not bind with p120 rasGAP. However, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that Dok-3 is a negative regulator of the activation of JNK and mobilization of Ca2+ in B-cell receptor-mediated signaling, where the interaction of Dok-3 with SHIP-1 and Grb2 appears to be important. Here, we review the physiological roles and underlying mechanisms of Dok family proteins.

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2 have dominant roles in the action of insulin, but other substrates of the insulin receptor kinase, such as Gab1, c-Cbl, SH2-B and APS, are also of physiological relevance. Although the protein downstream of tyrosine kinases-1 (Dok1) is known to function as a multisite adapter molecule in insulin signaling, its role in energy homeostasis has remained unclear. Here we show that Dok1 regulates adiposity. Expression of Dok1 in white adipose tissue was markedly increased in mice fed a high-fat diet, whereas adipocytes lacking this adapter were smaller and showed a reduced hypertrophic response to this dietary manipulation. Dok1-deficient mice were leaner and showed improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity compared with wild-type mice. Embryonic fibroblasts from Dok1-deficient mice were impaired in adipogenic differentiation, and this defect was accompanied by an increased activity of the protein kinase ERK and a consequent increase in the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma on Ser112. Mutation of this negative regulatory site for the transactivation activity of PPAR-gamma blocked development of the lean phenotype caused by Dok1 ablation. These results indicate that Dok1 promotes adipocyte hypertrophy by counteracting the inhibitory effect of ERK on PPAR-gamma and may thus confer predisposition to diet-induced obesity.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) plays an essential role in the control of humoral immunity by regulating lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation, including the T helper type 2 lineage commitment of CD4(+) T cells as well as the isotype switching to IgE in B cells. The adaptor protein Dok-1 is known to have an essential role in the negative regulation of a variety of cytokine signalling events. However, here we have found that the loss of Dok-1 impaired the proliferative response of CD4(+) T cells and B cells to IL-4. Conversely, the forced expression of Dok-1 in the myeloid cell line 32D augmented the IL-4-induced proliferation, indicating a positive role for Dok-1. Tyrosine phosphorylation, and thereby the activation of Stat6 and IRS-2, is critical for IL-4 signalling; however, only the activation of Stat6, not the IRS-2-dependent phosphorylation of Akt, was perturbed in Dok-1-deficient cells stimulated with IL-4. Furthermore, mice lacking Dok-1 showed an impaired IgE response to thymus-dependent antigen. Thus, Dok-1 is a positive regulator of IL-4 signalling and IgE response.

Interaction of the TCR complex with self- or foreign peptides is a central event in the immune responses. Upon TCR stimulation, a protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK), ZAP-70, is recruited to signaling units of the TCR complex, such as TCRzeta, to play an essential role in T cell activation. Here, we find that mice lacking adaptor proteins Dok-1 and Dok-2 show augmented responses to thymus-dependent, but not thymus-independent, antigens, and that their T cells show elevated responses to TCR stimulation, including the activation of ZAP-70 and subsequent proliferation and cytokine production. Furthermore, the forced expression of Dok-1 or Dok-2 in a CD3(+)CD4(+) T cell clone inhibited the activation of ZAP-70 upon TCR stimulation. Interestingly, the Dok-1 and Dok-2 COOH-terminal moieties bearing the src homology 2 target motifs were dispensable for this negative regulation, even though they are crucial for the known adaptor function of Dok-family proteins. Thus, by an as yet unidentified mechanism, Dok-1 and Dok-2 play an essential role in the negative regulation of TCR signaling. Consistently, all mice lacking these proteins exhibited elevated titers of antibodies to double-stranded DNA and developed lupus-like renal disease.

Endotoxin, a bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), causes fatal septic shock via Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 on effector cells of innate immunity like macrophages, where it activates nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases to induce proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Dok-1 and Dok-2 are adaptor proteins that negatively regulate Ras-Erk signaling downstream of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). Here, we demonstrate that LPS rapidly induced the tyrosine phosphorylation and adaptor function of these proteins. The stimulation with LPS of macrophages from mice lacking Dok-1 or Dok-2 induced elevated Erk activation, but not the other MAP kinases or NF-kappaB, resulting in hyperproduction of TNF-alpha and nitric oxide. Furthermore, the mutant mice showed hyperproduction of TNF-alpha and hypersensitivity to LPS. However, macrophages from these mutant mice reacted normally to other pathogenic molecules, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, poly(I:C) ribonucleotides, or Pam3CSK4 lipopeptide, which activated cognate TLRs but induced no tyrosine phosphorylation of Dok-1 or Dok-2. Forced expression of either adaptor, but not a mutant having a Tyr/Phe substitution, in macrophages inhibited LPS-induced Erk activation and TNF-alpha production. Thus, Dok-1 and Dok-2 are essential negative regulators downstream of TLR4, implying a novel PTK-dependent pathway in innate immunity.

Dok-1 and Dok-2 are closely related rasGAP-associated docking proteins expressed preferentially in hematopoietic cells. Although they are phosphorylated upon activation of many protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), including those coupled with cytokine receptors and oncogenic PTKs like Bcr-Abl, their physiological roles are largely unidentified. Here, we generated mice lacking Dok-1 and/or Dok-2, which included the double-deficient mice succumbed to myeloproliferative disease resembling human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The double-deficient mice displayed medullary and extramedullary hyperplasia of granulocyte/macrophage progenitors with leukemic potential, and their myeloid cells showed hyperproliferation and hypo-apoptosis upon treatment and deprivation of cytokines, respectively. Consistently, the mutant myeloid cells showed enhanced Erk and Akt activation upon cytokine stimulation. Moreover, loss of Dok-1 and/or Dok-2 induced blastic transformation of chronic phase CML-like disease in mice carrying the bcr-abl gene, a cause of CML. These findings demonstrate that Dok-1 and Dok-2 are key negative regulators of cytokine responses and are essential for myeloid homeostasis and suppression of leukemia.

Dok-1 is a common substrate of many protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). It recruits rasGAP and other SH2-containing proteins and negatively regulates Ras-Erk signalling downstream of PTKs. However, the mechanisms of its inhibitory effect are yet unclear. Here, a series of C-terminal deletion mutants of Dok-1 delineated the core domain for the inhibition of Erk from 334 to 346 amino acid, which contains two SH2-binding motifs having Tyr-336 or Tyr-340. The Dok-1 mutants having tyrosine-to-phenylalanine (YF) substitution(s) at Tyr-336 and/or Tyr-340 lost their inhibitory effect on Ras and Erk downstream of Src-like PTK, Lyn or Fyn, whereas the rasGAP-binding of each mutant remained intact. However, the Dok-1 mutant having YF substitutions at the rasGAP-binding sites (Tyr-295 and Tyr-361) also showed incapability of Ras and Erk inhibition. Moreover, the Dok-1 mutant having YF substitutions at Tyr-336 and Tyr-340 showed an impaired inhibitory effect on v-Abl-induced transformation of NIH-3T3 cells. These results demonstrate that Tyr-336 and Tyr-340 of Dok-1 are dispensable for rasGAP-binding but essential for inhibition of Ras-Erk signalling and cellular transformation downstream of PTKs. Thus, Dok-1 probably recruits as yet unidentified molecule(s), which, in concert with rasGAP, negatively regulate Ras-Erk signalling., (Copyright Blackwell Publishing Limited)

Genetic studies have revealed that Cbl-b plays a negative role in the antigen receptor-mediated proliferation of lymphocytes. However, we show that Cbl-b-deficient DT40 B cells display reduced phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma2 activation and Ca2+ mobilization upon B cell receptor (BCR) stimulation. In addition, the overexpression of Cbl-b in WEHI-231 mouse B cells resulted in the augmentation of BCR-induced Ca2+ mobilization. Cbl-b interacted with PLC-gamma2 and helped the association of PLC-gamma2 with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), as well as B cell linker protein (BLNK). Cbl-b was indispensable for Btk-dependent sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+. Both NH(2)-terminal tyrosine kinase-binding domain and COOH-terminal half region of Cbl-b were essential for its association with PLC-gamma2 and the regulation of Ca2+ mobilization. These results demonstrate that Cbl-b positively regulates BCR-mediated Ca2+ signaling, most likely by influencing the Btk/BLNK/PLC-gamma2 complex formation.

p62Dok, the rasGAP-binding protein, is a common target of protein-tyrosine kinases. It is one of the major tyrosine-phosphorylated molecules in v-Src-transformed cells. Dok consists of an amino-terminal Pleckstrin homology domain, a putative phosphotyrosine binding domain, and a carboxyl-terminal tail containing multiple tyrosine phosphorylation sites. The importance and function of these sequences in Dok signaling remain largely unknown. We have demonstrated here that the expression of Dok can inhibit cellular transformation by the Src tyrosine kinase. Both the phosphotyrosine binding domain and the carboxyl-terminal tail of Dok (in particular residues 336-363) are necessary for such activity. Using a combinatorial peptide library approach, we have shown that the Dok phosphotyrosine binding domain binds phosphopeptides with the consensus motif of Y/MXXNXL-phosphotyrosine. Furthermore, Dok can homodimerize through its phosphotyrosine binding domain and Tyr(146) at the amino-terminal region. Mutations of this domain or Tyr(146) that block homodimerization significantly reduce the ability of Dok to inhibit Src transformation. Our results suggest that Dok oligomerization through its multiple domains plays a critical role in Dok signaling in response to tyrosine kinase activation.

Antigenic stimulation of the B-cell receptor (BCR) is a central event in the immune response. In contrast, antigen bound to IgG negatively regulates signals from the BCR by cross-linking it to the inhibitory receptor FcgammaRIIB. Here we show that upon cross-linking of BCR or BCR with FcgammaRIIB, the rasGAP-associated protein p62(dok) is prominently tyrosine phosphorylated in a Lyn-dependent manner. Inactivation of the dok gene by homologous recombination has shown that upon BCR cross-linking, p62(dok) suppresses MAP kinase and is indispensable for FcgammaRIIB-mediated negative regulation of cell proliferation. We propose that p62(dok), a downstream target of many PTKs, plays a negative role in various signaling situations.

Dok, a 62-kDa Ras GTPase-activating protein (rasGAP)-associated phosphotyrosyl protein, is thought to act as a multiple docking protein downstream of receptor or non-receptor tyrosine kinases. Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins induced marked tyrosine phosphorylation of Dok. This adhesion-dependent phosphorylation of Dok was mediated, at least in part, by Src family tyrosine kinases. The maximal insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Dok required a Src family kinase. A mutant Dok (DokDeltaPH) that lacked its pleckstrin homology domain failed to undergo tyrosine phosphorylation in response to cell adhesion or insulin. Furthermore, unlike the wild-type protein, DokDeltaPH did not localize to subcellular membrane components. Insulin promoted the association of tyrosine-phosphorylated Dok with the adapter protein NCK and rasGAP. In contrast, a mutant Dok (DokY361F), in which Tyr361 was replaced by phenylalanine, failed to bind NCK but partially retained the ability to bind rasGAP in response to insulin. Overexpression of wild-type Dok, but not that of DokDeltaPH or DokY361F, enhanced the cell migratory response to insulin without affecting insulin activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. These results identify Dok as a signal transducer that potentially links, through its interaction with NCK or rasGAP, cell adhesion and insulin receptors to the machinery that controls cell motility.

A 62 kDa protein is highly phosphorylated in many cells containing activated tyrosine kinases. This protein, characterized mainly by its avid association with rasGAP, has proved elusive. Anti-phosphotyrosine antibody was used to purify p62. From peptide sequence, molecular cloning revealed a cDNA encoding a novel protein, p62dok, with little homology to others but with a prominent set of tyrosines and nearby sequences suggestive of SH2 binding sites. In cells, v-Abl tyrosine kinase binds and strongly phosphorylates p62dok, which then binds rasGAP. A monoclonal antibody, 2C4, to the rasGAP-associated p62 reacts with p62dok. Thus, p62dok appears to be the long-sought major substrate of many tyrosine kinases.

B-lymphocytes infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can proliferate in immunocompromised hosts to form lymphomas (MLs). Similar MLs are produced in mice with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) by transfusion of human lymphocytes infected with EBV (SCID-EBV-positive BML). Mb-1 and B29 are recently found transmembrane proteins associated with membrane immunoglobulins (mIg) on the surface of B cells. Lyn is a src family gene product expressed in B cells submembranously, in association with mIg, possibly through Mb-1/B29 heterodimer. These mIg-associated proteins (Mb-1, B29 and Lyn) are known to mediate antigenic stimulation through mIgs. We noted recently that Lyn is decreased selectively in around a half of SCID-EBV-positive BMLs. We extended this line of investigation to other mIg-associated proteins. Five acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-MLs and ten SCID-EBV-positive BMLs were first analysed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of Mb-1, B29 and Lyn. It was found that in AIDS-MLs, all the mIg-associated proteins were heavily down-regulated. In SCID-EBV-positive BMLs, Mb-1 was down regulated in six of ten, B29 in nine of ten and Lyn in six of ten, whereas no down-regulation was noted in eight EBV-free B MLs that were also maintained in SCID mice. An additional flow-cytometric study of two SCID-EBV-positive and two EBV-negative BMLs showed similar down-regulation in the former cases exclusively. Whereas mIg was also decreased in three of five SCID-EBV positive BMLs, it did not necessarily match the decrease of mIg-associated proteins, which contrasts with the recent finding that mIgs coexist with Mb-1 or B29. Some EBV-encoded proteins may activate host molecules located downwardly; this, in turn, may lead to the suppression of these upwardly-located mIg-associated proteins.

B-lymphocytes infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can proliferate in immunocompromised hosts to form lymphomas (MLs). Similar MLs are produced in mice with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) by transfusion of human lymphocytes infected with EBV (SCID-EBV-positive BML). Mb-1 and B29 are recently found transmembrane proteins associated with membrane immunoglobulins (mIg) on the surface of B cells. Lyn is a src family gene product expressed in B cells submembranously, in association with mIg, possibly through Mb-1/B29 heterodimer. These mIg-associated proteins (Mb-1, B29 and Lyn) are known to mediate antigenic stimulation through mIgs. We noted recently that Lyn is decreased selectively in around a half of SCID-EBV-positive BMLs. We extended this line of investigation to other mIg-associated proteins. Five acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-MLs and ten SCID-EBV-positive BMLs were first analysed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of Mb-1, B29 and Lyn. It was found that in AIDS-MLs, all the mIg-associated proteins were heavily down-regulated. In SCID-EBV-positive BMLs, Mb-1 was down regulated in six of ten, B29 in nine of ten and Lyn in six of ten, whereas no down-regulation was noted in eight EBV-free B MLs that were also maintained in SCID mice. An additional flow-cytometric study of two SCID-EBV-positive and two EBV-negative BMLs showed similar down-regulation in the former cases exclusively. Whereas mIg was also decreased in three of five SCID-EBV positive BMLs, it did not necessarily match the decrease of mIg-associated proteins, which contrasts with the recent finding that mIgs coexist with Mb-1 or B29. Some EBV-encoded proteins may activate host molecules located downwardly; this, in turn, may lead to the suppression of these upwardly-located mIg-associated proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]