Itk controls the spatiotemporal organization of T cell activation

Sci Signal. 2011 Oct 4;4(193):ra66. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2001821.

Abstract

During T cell activation by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), the diverse spatiotemporal organization of components of T cell signaling pathways modulates the efficiency of activation. Here, we found that loss of the tyrosine kinase interleukin-2 (IL-2)-inducible T cell kinase (Itk) in mice altered the spatiotemporal distributions of 14 of 16 sensors of T cell signaling molecules in the region of the interface between the T cell and the APC, which reduced the segregation of signaling intermediates into distinct spatiotemporal patterns. Activation of the Rho family guanosine triphosphatase Cdc42 at the center of the cell-cell interface was impaired, although the total cellular amount of active Cdc42 remained intact. The defect in Cdc42 localization resulted in impaired actin accumulation at the T cell-APC interface in Itk-deficient T cells. Reconstitution of cells with active Cdc42 that was specifically directed to the center of the interface restored actin accumulation in Itk-deficient T cells. Itk also controlled the central localization of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor SLAT [Switch-associated protein 70 (SWAP-70)-like adaptor of T cells], which may contribute to the activation of Cdc42 at the center of the interface. Together, these data illustrate how control of the spatiotemporal organization of T cell signaling controls critical aspects of T cell function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Actins / immunology
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation / genetics
  • Enzyme Activation / immunology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / immunology
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / immunology
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • SLAT protein, mouse
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • emt protein-tyrosine kinase
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein