Lck mediates signal transmission from CD59 to the TCR/CD3 pathway in Jurkat T cells

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 15;9(1):e85934. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085934. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored molecule CD59 has been implicated in the modulation of T cell responses, but the underlying molecular mechanism of CD59 influencing T cell signaling remained unclear. Here we analyzed Jurkat T cells stimulated via anti-CD3ε- or anti-CD59-coated surfaces, using time-resolved single-cell Ca(2+) imaging as a read-out for stimulation. This analysis revealed a heterogeneous Ca(2+) response of the cell population in a stimulus-dependent manner. Further analysis of T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 deficient or overexpressing cells showed that CD59-mediated signaling is strongly dependent on TCR/CD3 surface expression. In protein co-patterning and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments no direct physical interaction was observed between CD59 and CD3 at the plasma membrane upon anti-CD59 stimulation. However, siRNA-mediated protein knock-downs of downstream signaling molecules revealed that the Src family kinase Lck and the adaptor molecule linker of activated T cells (LAT) are essential for both signaling pathways. Furthermore, flow cytometry measurements showed that knock-down of Lck accelerates CD3 re-expression at the cell surface after anti-CD59 stimulation similar to what has been observed upon direct TCR/CD3 stimulation. Finally, physically linking Lck to CD3ζ completely abolished CD59-triggered Ca(2+) signaling, while signaling was still functional upon direct TCR/CD3 stimulation. Altogether, we demonstrate that Lck mediates signal transmission from CD59 to the TCR/CD3 pathway in Jurkat T cells, and propose that CD59 may act via Lck to modulate T cell responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD3 Complex / metabolism*
  • CD59 Antigens / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / physiology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*

Substances

  • CD3 Complex
  • CD3 antigen, zeta chain
  • CD59 Antigens
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • CD59 protein, human
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE), the state of Upper Austria and the GEN-AU Project of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.