Endocytic events in TCR signaling: focus on adapters in microclusters

Immunol Rev. 2009 Nov;232(1):84-98. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065X.2009.00840.x.

Abstract

Although the critical role of T-cell receptor (TCR) microclusters in T-cell activation is now widely accepted, the mechanisms of regulation of these TCR-rich structures, which also contain enzymes, adapters, and effectors, remain poorly defined. Soon after microcluster formation, several signaling proteins rapidly dissociate from the TCR. Recent studies from our laboratory demonstrated that the movement of the adapters linker for activation of T cells (LAT) and Src homology 2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa (SLP-76) away from initial microcluster formation sites represents endocytic events. Ubiquitylation, Cbl proteins, and multiple endocytic pathways are involved in the internalization events that disassemble signaling microclusters. Several recent studies have indicated that microcluster movement and centralization plays an important role in signal termination. We suggest that microcluster movement is directly linked to endocytic events, thus implicating endocytosis of microclusters as a means to regulate signaling output of the T cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / immunology
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Endocytosis / immunology*
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphoproteins / immunology
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Multimerization / immunology
  • Receptor Aggregation / immunology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Ubiquitination / immunology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • LAT protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • SLP-76 signal Transducing adaptor proteins