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Rlk/Txk is a T-cell-specific member of the Btk/Tec family of tyrosine kinases, whereas SLP-76 is a lymphoid adaptor that is essential for pre-TcR and mature TcR signaling. Although Rlk deficient T-cells show partial defects in T-cell proliferation, Rlk can complement ITK-/- cells with multiple defects in TcR initiated early events and interleukin (IL)-2 production. A key question is the nature of the target of Rlk responsible for bridging the TcR with the activation of IL-2 transcription. In this study, we identify a pathway in which Rlk phosphorylates SLP-76 leading to the phosphorylation of PLCgamma1, activation of ERKs, and the synergistic up-regulation of TcR-driven IL-2 NFAT/AP-1 transcription. Rlk phosphorylated the N-terminal region of SLP-76, a region that has been previously shown to serve as a target for ZAP-70. Loss of N-terminal YESP/YEPP sites of SLP-76 or the Rlk kinase activity attenuated cooperativity between Rlk and SLP-76. These observations support a model where the TcR can utilize Rlk (as well as ZAP-70) in the phosphorylation of key sites in SLP-76 leading to the up-regulation of Th1 preferred cytokine IL-2.

T-cell activation involves the participation of protein-tyrosine kinases p56(lck) and ZAP-70/SYK as well as lymphoid proteins such as SLP-76 and FYB/SLAP. FYB/SLAP has the hallmarks of an adaptor protein that binds to the SH2 domains of the Src kinase FYN-T and SLP-76. Whereas two forms of FYB at 120 and 130 kDa have been identified biochemically, a cDNA encoding only the lower molecular weight isoform has been cloned (termed FYB-120 or SLAP-130). In this study, we report the isolation of an alternative isoform of FYB with a molecular mass of 130 kDa (FYB-130) that has the same structure as FYB-120 except for an insertion of 46 amino acids toward the carboxyl-terminal region of the protein. FYB-120 and FYB-130 share an ability to bind to the SH2 domains of FYN-T and SLP-76, to act as substrates for p59(FYN-T), and to be expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of T-cells. Differences were noted between the isoforms in the efficiency of binding to SLP-76 and in the preferential expression of FYB-130 in mature T-cells. When co-expressed together with FYN-T and SLP-76, FYB-130 caused a significant increase in anti-CD3-driven NF-AT transcription. Finally, fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis localized the FYB gene to human chromosome 5 at position p13.1. FYB-130 therefore represents a novel variant of FYB protein that can up-regulate T-cell receptor-driven interleukin 2 production in mature T-cells.

Protein-tyrosine kinases p56(Lck), SYK, and ZAP-70 and downstream adaptors LAT and SLP-76 have been implicated as essential components in T-cell activation. Another lymphoid-specific adaptor FYB/SLAP has also been identified as a predominant binding partner of SLP-76 and the Src kinase FYN-T, although its role in the activation process has been unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that FYN-T selectively phosphorylates FYB providing a template for the recruitment of FYN-T and SLP-76 SH2 domain binding. This interaction is unusual in its distinct cytoplasmic localization and its long term stable kinetics of phosphorylation. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time that the co-expression of all three components of the FYN-T-FYB-SLP-76 matrix can synergistically up-regulate T-cell receptor-driven interleukin 2 transcription activity. These findings document the existence of a T-cell receptor-regulated FYN-T-FYB pathway that interfaces with the adaptor SLP-76 and up-regulates lymphokine production in T-cells.

The CD4 (T4) antigen is a cell-surface glycoprotein that is expressed predominantly on the surface of helper T cells and has been implicated in the regulation of T-cell activation and in the associative recognition of class II antigens of the major histocompatibility complex. In addition, the CD4 antigen appears to serve as a receptor for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). An important question has been whether the CD4 receptor is linked to an intracellular mediator that could regulate the activation of the CD4+ subset. In this paper, we provide preliminary evidence that the CD4 receptor is complexed in detergent lysates to a protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) of 55-60 kDa, which is expressed specifically in T cells. The PTK is the human analogue of the murine pp56LSTRA (pp56lck) and has significant homology with c-src, c-yes, and other members of the src family. The identification of the PTK associated with CD4 receptor was made by use of an antiserum to a synthetic peptide that was deduced from the DNA sequence of PTK. Two-dimensional nonequilibrium pH gradient gel electrophoresis/NaDodSO4/PAGE revealed the kinase to focus as a heterogeneous collection of spots in the pH range of 4.0-5.0. Furthermore, in vitro phosphorylation revealed the phosphorylation of two additional polypeptides at 40 and 80 kDa, in addition to the autophosphorylation of the PTK at 55-60 kDa. The potential importance of the association between the CD4 receptor and the PTK of T cells is discussed in relation to T-cell activation and HIV infectivity.

Many mammalian receptors have been found to regulate cell growth by virtue of a protein-tyrosine kinase domain in their cytoplasmic tail. We recently described an association of the CD4 antigen with a T-cell-specific protein-tyrosine kinase (p56lck; formerly termed pp58lck; EC 2.7.1.112). This interaction represents a potential mechanism by which T-cell growth may be regulated and offers a model by which other members of the src family (products of c-src, c-yes, c-fgr, etc.) may interact with mammalian growth factor receptors. As in the case of the CD4 antigen, the CD8 antigen appears to serve as a receptor for nonpolymorphic regions of products of the major histocompatibility complex and has been implicated in the regulation of T-cell growth. In this study, we reveal that the human CD8 antigen is also associated with the T-cell-specific protein-tyrosine kinase (p56lck). The associated p56lck kinase was detected by use of both in vitro and in vivo labeling regimes using an antiserum to the C terminus of p56lck. Two-dimensional nonequilibrium pH-gradient gel electrophoresis and sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the similarity of p56lck to the protein-tyrosine kinase associated with the CD4 antigen. The catalytic activity of p56lck was revealed by the autophosphorylation of the 55- to 60-kDa kinase and the occasional labeling of a 35-kDa protein. Last, we demonstrate directly that members of the CD3 complex, including the gamma, delta, and epsilon chains, as well as a putative zeta subunit, can be phosphorylated at tyrosine residues by the CD4/CD8.p56lck complex.

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel analyses of immunoprecipitates of HLA-D region antigens prepared from [35S]methionine-labeled B lymphoblastoid cells revealed a number of invariant polypeptides (Ii and theta) that co-precipitate with the alpha and beta polypeptides of the class II (Ia) antigens. The invariant polypeptides comprised at least three Ii spots of Mr = 31,000 (Ii1-Ii3) and a series of six theta spots of Mr = 34,000 (theta 1-theta 6). The structural inter-relationships of these polypeptides have been investigated. Tryptic peptide fingerprints showed that Ii and theta have closely related amino acid sequences. In contrast, the fingerprints of the HLA-DR alpha and beta polypeptides clearly differed from those of theta and Ii as well as from each other. Analyses of immunoprecipitates prepared from cells cultured in the presence of tunicamycin revealed the presence of two N-linked oligosaccharides on each invariant polypeptide and suggested that the more acidic theta polypeptides (theta 1 and theta 2) differed from the other invariant polypeptides by the presence of sialic acid on one or both N-linked oligosaccharides. Removal of sialic acid by neuraminidase simplified the pattern of theta spots into three distinct Ii-related polypeptides. Endo-beta-N-acetylglycosaminidase H digestion indicated that the individual theta polypeptides represent stages in carbohydrate processing whereby Ii with two N-linked immature oligosaccharides are converted initially to theta 6-theta 3 with one immature and one complex, but nonsialylated, oligosaccharide and finally to theta 2-theta 1 with two complex oligosaccharides. Digestion of the theta polypeptides with N-acetylgalactosamine oligosaccharidase indicated that the theta spots are also derived by O-glycosylation from the Ii polypeptides. This assignment is supported by results obtained using monensin to block glycosylation within the Golgi. At least three spots persisted after complete removal of the N- and O-linked oligosaccharides, suggesting the presence of a family of invariant polypeptides differing in amino acid sequence.

The co-stimulatory antigen CD28 has been shown to bind to several intracellular proteins including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2), and ITK. Paradoxically, Grb2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase binding has been mapped to a similar pYMNM motif within the CD28 cytoplasmic tail. Given the importance of CD28 co-signaling to T cell function, questions exist regarding the mechanism by which Grb2 binds to CD28, and whether the interaction plays a role in co-stimulation. To biochemically characterize Grb2/CD28 binding, we initially utilized glutathione S-transferase-Grb2 fusion proteins carrying inactivating mutations within the SH2 and SH3 domains of Grb2, and assessed their ability to bind to CD28. In vitro binding experiments indicated that the Grb2 SH2 domain is critical for the association, while the SH3 domain plays an additional role in facilitating optimal binding. Enhanced binding via the SH3 domains was not observed when the C-terminal PXXP motif within CD28 was disrupted, thereby indicating that both SH2 and SH3 domains contribute to CD28 binding. Mutations that alter Grb2 binding were found to block the CD28-dependent interleukin-2 production. Further, tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav and the costimulation-dependent activation of Jun N-terminal kinase was blocked in cells defective in CD28/Grb2 binding. These results provide evidence for an alternate CD28-mediated signaling process involving Grb2 binding to the co-receptor.

The c-fps/fes proto-oncogene encodes a 92-kDa protein-tyrosine kinase that is expressed at high levels in macrophages. We have previously shown that overexpression of c-fps/fes in a CSF-1-dependent macrophage cell line (BAC1.2F5) partially released these cells from their factor dependence and that this correlated with the tyrosine phosphorylation of a subset of proteins in a tissue-specific manner. We have now identified one of the macrophage substrates of Fes as the crk-associated substrate (Cas) and a second substrate as a 130-kDa protein that has been previously described as a T cell activation-dependent substrate and is unrelated to Cas. Both of these proteins, which have optimal consensus sequences for phosphorylation by Fes, were tightly associated with this kinase through its SH2 domain, suggesting that they were direct substrates of Fes. Remarkably, when the Fes SH2 domain was used as an affinity reagent to identify potential substrates of endogenous Fes in control BAC1.2F5 cells, the phosphotyrosyl proteins that were recognized were the same as those that were specifically phosphorylated when Fes was overexpressed in the same cells. We conclude that the substrates we identified may be structurally related or identical to the physiological targets of this kinase in macrophages. The known functions of Cas and p130 suggest that Fes kinase may play a role in signaling triggered by cell adhesion and cell-cell interactions during immune responses of macrophages.

The T4 (CD4) subset of T lymphocytes has been subdivided into two major subsets, a suppressor/inducer subset (T4+,2H4+) and a helper subset (T4+,2H4-) on the basis of the differential expression of the L-C/T200 (CD45) antigens. The 2H4 antigen itself comprises at least three distinct polypeptides at 125,200, and 220 X 10(3) Mr, of which the 200 and 220 X 10(3) Mr polypeptides constitute the highest Mr isoforms of a pool of five distinct L-C/T200 antigens. The T4+,2H4+ subset expresses at least four of these isoforms at 180, 190, 200, and 220 X 10(3) on the cell surface, while the T4+,2H4- subset expresses only the 180 and 190 X 10(3) Mr forms. Pulse-chase analysis and endoglycosidase treatment revealed that the 125 X 10(3) Mr chain of the 2H4 antigen is nonglycosylated, while the 200 and 220 X 10(3) polypeptides are structurally related and derived by N- and O-linked glycosylation from two nascent subunits at 150 and 160 X 10(3) Mr. The function of the T4+,2H4+ subset could be blocked only by an antibody reactive with the L-C/T200 isoforms enriched with O-linked oligosaccharides at 200 and 220 X 10(3) Mr.

Whether the expression of higher molecular weight isoforms of the T-200 complex represents different lineages of T cells and/or a sequential stage of the differential pathway of T cells has been unclear. Understanding T cell expression of higher molecular weight isoforms of the T-200 complex (CD45R) may be important because of their association with regulation of immune responses. By direct single cell cloning, we observed a number of long-term T cell clones that expressed CD45RA (2H4). CD45RA expression could be further regulated by ionomycin or the cytokines IL-1 and IL-6, but not IL-2, IL-4, or IFN-gamma. These results indicate that CD45RA expression may define T cell lineages of activated T cells partially controlled by the cytokines IL-1 and IL-6. Further, these results may associate regulatory actions of IL-1 and IL-6 with their ability to increase CD45RA expression in subpopulations of human T cells.