Requirement for Daxx in mature T-cell proliferation and activation

Cell Death Differ. 2007 Apr;14(4):795-806. doi: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4402056. Epub 2006 Nov 3.

Abstract

The protein Daxx promotes Fas-mediated cell death through activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, leading to the activation of the MAPKs JNK and p38. Owing to the in utero lethality of daxx-deficient mice, the in vivo role of Daxx has been so far difficult to analyze. We have generated transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative form of Daxx (Daxx-DN) in the T-cell lineage. We show that Daxx is recruited to the Fas receptor upon FasL engagement and that Daxx-DN expression protects activated T cells from Fas-induced cell death, by preventing the death-inducing signal complex to be properly formed. Normal lymphocyte development and homeostasis are nevertheless observed. Interestingly, we report that both in vitro and in vivo stimulation of Daxx-DN T-lymphocytes leads to increased proliferative T-cell responses. This increased proliferation is associated with a marked increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT and ZAP70 as Daxx-DN favor their recruitment to the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex. These findings identify Daxx as a critical regulator of T-lymphocyte homeostasis by decreasing TCR-induced cell proliferation and by promoting Fas-mediated cell death.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • Fas Ligand Protein / metabolism*
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • fas Receptor / physiology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • DAXX protein, human
  • Daxx protein, mouse
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • fas Receptor
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Caspases