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Infection of mice with Listeria monocytogenes results in a strong T-cell response that is critical for an efficient defense. Here, we demonstrate that the adapter protein SLy1 (SH3-domain protein expressed in Lymphocytes 1) is essential for the generation of a fully functional T-cell response. The lack of SLy1 leads to reduced survival rates of infected mice. The increased susceptibility of SLy1 knock-out (KO) mice was caused by reduced proliferation of differentiated T cells. Ex vivo analyses of isolated SLy1 KO T cells displayed a dysregulation of Forkhead box protein O1 shuttling after TCR signaling, which resulted in an increased expression of cell cycle inhibiting genes, and therefore, reduced expansion of the T-cell population. Forkhead box protein O1 shuttles to the cytoplasm after phosphorylation in a protein complex including 14-3-3 proteins. Interestingly, we observed a similar regulation for the adapter protein SLy1, where TCR stimulation results in SLy1 phosphorylation and SLy1 export to the cytoplasm. Moreover, immunoprecipitation analyses revealed a binding of SLy1 to 14-3-3 proteins. Altogether, this study describes SLy1 as an immunoregulatory protein, which is involved in the generation of adaptive immune responses during L. monocytogenes infection, and provides a model of how SLy1 regulates T-cell proliferation.

The adaptor protein SLy2 (Src homology domain 3 lymphocyte protein 2) is located on human chromosome 21 and was reported to be among a group of genes amplified in Down's syndrome (DS) patients. DS patients characteristically show an impaired immunity to pneumococcal infections. However, molecular mechanisms linking gene amplifications with specific DS phenotypes remain elusive. To investigate the effect of SLy2 gene amplification on the mammalian immune system, we studied SLy2 overexpressing transgenic-SLy2 (TG) mice. We found that baseline immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels as well as IgM responses following Pneumovax immunizations were reduced in TG mice. Moreover, B-1 cells, the major natural IgM-producing population in mice, were reduced in the peritoneal cavity of TG mice, while other immune cell compartments were unaltered. Mechanistically, SLy2 overexpression attenuated the expression of the IL-5 receptor α chain on B-1 cells, resulting in decreased B-1 cell numbers and decreased differentiation into Ab-secreting cells. Since B-1 cells essentially contribute to immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the present study provides a novel molecular link between SLy2 expression and pneumococcal-specific IgM responses in vivo. These studies suggest that the adaptor protein SLy2 is a potential future target for immunomodulatory strategies for pneumococcal infections.

Background Phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) and PI3Kδ are second messenger-generating enzymes with key roles in proliferation, differentiation, survival, and function of leukocytes. Deficiency of the catalytic subunits p110γ and p110δ of PI3Kγ and PI3Kδ in p110γ/δ−/− mice leads to defective B- and T-cell homeostasis. Here we examined the role of p110γ and p110δ in the homeostasis of neutrophils by analyzing p110γ−/−, p110δ−/− and p110γ/δ−/− mice. Methods Neutrophils and T cells in leukocyte suspensions from the bone marrow (BM), blood, spleen and lung were analyzed by flow cytometry. Serum concentrations of IL-17, of the neutrophilic growth factor G-CSF, and of the neutrophil mobilizing CXC chemokines CXCL1/KC and CXCL2/MIP-2 were measured by Bio-Plex assay. Production of G-CSF and CXCL1/KC by IL-17-stimulated primary lung tissue cells were determined by ELISA, whereas IL-17-dependent signaling in lung tissue cells was analyzed by measuring Akt phosphorylation using immunoblot. Results We found that in contrast to single knock-out mice, p110γ/δ−/− mice exhibited significantly elevated neutrophil counts in blood, spleen, and lung. Increased granulocytic differentiation stages in the bone marrow of p110γ/δ−/− mice were paralleled by increased serum concentrations of G-CSF, CXCL1/KC, and CXCL2/MIP-2. As IL-17 induces neutrophilia via the induction of G-CSF and CXC chemokines, we measured IL-17 and IL-17-producing T cells. IL-17 serum concentrations and frequencies of IL-17+ splenic T cells were significantly increased in p110γ/δ−/− mice. Moreover, IFN-γ+, IL-4+, and IL-5+ T cell subsets were drastically increased in p110γ/δ−/− mice, suggesting that IL-17+ T cells were up-regulated in the context of a general percentage increase of other cytokine producing T cell subsets. Conclusions We found that p110γ/δ deficiency in mice induces complex immunological changes, which might in concert contribute to neutrophilia. These findings emphasize a crucial but indirect role of both p110γ and p110δ in the regulation of neutrophil homeostasis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12964-017-0185-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Infection of mice with Listeria monocytogenes results in a strong T-cell response that is critical for an efficient defense. Here, we demonstrate that the adapter protein SLy1 (SH3-domain protein expressed in Lymphocytes 1) is essential for the generation of a fully functional T-cell response. The lack of SLy1 leads to reduced survival rates of infected mice. The increased susceptibility of SLy1 knock-out (KO) mice was caused by reduced proliferation of differentiated T cells. Ex vivo analyses of isolated SLy1 KO T cells displayed a dysregulation of Forkhead box protein O1 shuttling after TCR signaling, which resulted in an increased expression of cell cycle inhibiting genes, and therefore, reduced expansion of the T-cell population. Forkhead box protein O1 shuttles to the cytoplasm after phosphorylation in a protein complex including 14-3-3 proteins. Interestingly, we observed a similar regulation for the adapter protein SLy1, where TCR stimulation results in SLy1 phosphorylation and SLy1 export to the cytoplasm. Moreover, immunoprecipitation analyses revealed a binding of SLy1 to 14-3-3 proteins. Altogether, this study describes SLy1 as an immunoregulatory protein, which is involved in the generation of adaptive immune responses during L. monocytogenes infection, and provides a model of how SLy1 regulates T-cell proliferation.

The adaptor protein SLy2 (Src homology domain 3 lymphocyte protein 2) is located on human chromosome 21 and was reported to be among a group of genes amplified in Down's syndrome (DS) patients. DS patients characteristically show an impaired immunity to pneumococcal infections. However, molecular mechanisms linking gene amplifications with specific DS phenotypes remain elusive. To investigate the effect of SLy2 gene amplification on the mammalian immune system, we studied SLy2 overexpressing transgenic-SLy2 (TG) mice. We found that baseline immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels as well as IgM responses following Pneumovax immunizations were reduced in TG mice. Moreover, B-1 cells, the major natural IgM-producing population in mice, were reduced in the peritoneal cavity of TG mice, while other immune cell compartments were unaltered. Mechanistically, SLy2 overexpression attenuated the expression of the IL-5 receptor α chain on B-1 cells, resulting in decreased B-1 cell numbers and decreased differentiation into Ab-secreting cells. Since B-1 cells essentially contribute to immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the present study provides a novel molecular link between SLy2 expression and pneumococcal-specific IgM responses in vivo. These studies suggest that the adaptor protein SLy2 is a potential future target for immunomodulatory strategies for pneumococcal infections.

Individuals with robust natural killer (NK) cell function incur lower rates of malignancies. To expand our understanding of genetic factors contributing to this phenomenon, we analyzed NK cells from cancer resistant and susceptible strains of mice. We identified a correlation between NK levels of the X-chromosome-located adaptor protein SLy1 and immunologic susceptibility to cancer. Unlike the case for T or B lymphocytes, where SLy1 shuttles between the cytoplasm and nucleus to facilitate signal transduction, in NK cells SLy1 functions as a ribosomal protein and is located solely in the cytoplasm. In its absence, ribosomal instability results in p53-mediated NK cell senescence and decreased clearance of malignancies. NK defects are reversible under inflammatory conditions and viral clearance is not impacted by SLy1 deficiency. Our work defines a previously unappreciated X-linked ribosomopathy that results in a specific and subtle NK cell dysfunction leading to immunologic susceptibility to cancer.