Separate signaling events control TCR downregulation and T cell activation in primary human T cells

Abstract Introduction T‐cell antigen receptor (TCR) interaction with cognate peptide:MHC complexes trigger clustering of TCR:CD3 complexes and signal transduction. Triggered TCR:CD3 complexes are rapidly internalized and degraded in a process called ligand‐induced TCR downregulation. Classic studies...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lieve E. H. van derDonk, Louis S. Ates, Jet van derSpek, Laura M. Tukker, Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek, Jeroen W. J. vanHeijst
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-03-01
Series:Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.383
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849731988734345216
author Lieve E. H. van derDonk
Louis S. Ates
Jet van derSpek
Laura M. Tukker
Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek
Jeroen W. J. vanHeijst
author_facet Lieve E. H. van derDonk
Louis S. Ates
Jet van derSpek
Laura M. Tukker
Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek
Jeroen W. J. vanHeijst
author_sort Lieve E. H. van derDonk
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction T‐cell antigen receptor (TCR) interaction with cognate peptide:MHC complexes trigger clustering of TCR:CD3 complexes and signal transduction. Triggered TCR:CD3 complexes are rapidly internalized and degraded in a process called ligand‐induced TCR downregulation. Classic studies in immortalized T‐cell lines have revealed a major role for the Src family kinase Lck in TCR downregulation. However, to what extent a similar mechanism operates in primary human T cells remains unclear. Methods Here, we developed an anti‐CD3‐mediated TCR downregulation assay, in which T‐cell gene expression in primary human T cells can be knocked down by microRNA constructs. In parallel, we used CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated knockout in Jurkat cells for validation experiments. Results We efficiently knocked down the expression of tyrosine kinases Lck, Fyn, and ZAP70, and found that, whereas this impaired T cell activation and effector function, TCR downregulation was not affected. Although TCR downregulation was marginally inhibited by the simultaneous knockdown of Lck and Fyn, its full abrogation required broad‐acting tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Conclusions These data suggest that there is substantial redundancy in the contribution of individual tyrosine kinases to TCR downregulation in primary human T cells. Our results highlight that TCR downregulation and T cell activation are controlled by different signaling events and illustrate the need for further research to untangle these processes.
format Article
id doaj-art-53079b524d644ffd827d286d6ed39ed9
institution DOAJ
issn 2050-4527
language English
publishDate 2021-03-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
spelling doaj-art-53079b524d644ffd827d286d6ed39ed92025-08-20T03:08:21ZengWileyImmunity, Inflammation and Disease2050-45272021-03-019122323810.1002/iid3.383Separate signaling events control TCR downregulation and T cell activation in primary human T cellsLieve E. H. van derDonk0Louis S. Ates1Jet van derSpek2Laura M. Tukker3Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek4Jeroen W. J. vanHeijst5Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The NetherlandsDepartment of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The NetherlandsDepartment of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The NetherlandsDepartment of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The NetherlandsDepartment of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The NetherlandsDepartment of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The NetherlandsAbstract Introduction T‐cell antigen receptor (TCR) interaction with cognate peptide:MHC complexes trigger clustering of TCR:CD3 complexes and signal transduction. Triggered TCR:CD3 complexes are rapidly internalized and degraded in a process called ligand‐induced TCR downregulation. Classic studies in immortalized T‐cell lines have revealed a major role for the Src family kinase Lck in TCR downregulation. However, to what extent a similar mechanism operates in primary human T cells remains unclear. Methods Here, we developed an anti‐CD3‐mediated TCR downregulation assay, in which T‐cell gene expression in primary human T cells can be knocked down by microRNA constructs. In parallel, we used CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated knockout in Jurkat cells for validation experiments. Results We efficiently knocked down the expression of tyrosine kinases Lck, Fyn, and ZAP70, and found that, whereas this impaired T cell activation and effector function, TCR downregulation was not affected. Although TCR downregulation was marginally inhibited by the simultaneous knockdown of Lck and Fyn, its full abrogation required broad‐acting tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Conclusions These data suggest that there is substantial redundancy in the contribution of individual tyrosine kinases to TCR downregulation in primary human T cells. Our results highlight that TCR downregulation and T cell activation are controlled by different signaling events and illustrate the need for further research to untangle these processes.https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.383CD4+ T cellsprotein tyrosine kinasesT‐cell activation | T‐cell receptorTCR downregulation
spellingShingle Lieve E. H. van derDonk
Louis S. Ates
Jet van derSpek
Laura M. Tukker
Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek
Jeroen W. J. vanHeijst
Separate signaling events control TCR downregulation and T cell activation in primary human T cells
Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
CD4+ T cells
protein tyrosine kinases
T‐cell activation | T‐cell receptor
TCR downregulation
title Separate signaling events control TCR downregulation and T cell activation in primary human T cells
title_full Separate signaling events control TCR downregulation and T cell activation in primary human T cells
title_fullStr Separate signaling events control TCR downregulation and T cell activation in primary human T cells
title_full_unstemmed Separate signaling events control TCR downregulation and T cell activation in primary human T cells
title_short Separate signaling events control TCR downregulation and T cell activation in primary human T cells
title_sort separate signaling events control tcr downregulation and t cell activation in primary human t cells
topic CD4+ T cells
protein tyrosine kinases
T‐cell activation | T‐cell receptor
TCR downregulation
url https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.383
work_keys_str_mv AT lieveehvanderdonk separatesignalingeventscontroltcrdownregulationandtcellactivationinprimaryhumantcells
AT louissates separatesignalingeventscontroltcrdownregulationandtcellactivationinprimaryhumantcells
AT jetvanderspek separatesignalingeventscontroltcrdownregulationandtcellactivationinprimaryhumantcells
AT lauramtukker separatesignalingeventscontroltcrdownregulationandtcellactivationinprimaryhumantcells
AT teunisbhgeijtenbeek separatesignalingeventscontroltcrdownregulationandtcellactivationinprimaryhumantcells
AT jeroenwjvanheijst separatesignalingeventscontroltcrdownregulationandtcellactivationinprimaryhumantcells