Caspase-8 regulation by direct interaction with TRAF6 in T cell receptor-induced NF-kappaB activation

Curr Biol. 2006 Aug 22;16(16):1666-71. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2006.06.062.

Abstract

Triggering of lymphocyte antigen receptors is the critical first step in the adaptive immune response against pathogens. T cell receptor (TCR) ligation assembles a large membrane signalosome, culminating in NF-kappaB activation [1,2]. Recently, caspase-8 was found to play a surprisingly prominent role in lymphocyte activation in addition to its well-known role in apoptosis [3]. Caspase-8 is activated after TCR stimulation and nucleates a complex with B cell lymphoma 10 (BCL10), paracaspase MALT1, and the inhibitors of kappaB kinase (IKK) complex [4]. We now report that the ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 binds to active caspase-8 upon TCR stimulation and facilitates its movement into lipid rafts. We identified in silico two putative TRAF6 binding motifs in the caspase-8 sequence and found that mutation of critical residues within these sites abolished TRAF6 binding and diminished TCR-induced NF-kappaB activation. Moreover, RNAi-mediated silencing of TRAF6 abrogated caspase-8 recruitment to the lipid rafts. Protein kinase Ctheta (PKCtheta), CARMA1, and BCL10 are also required for TCR-induced caspase-8 relocation, but only PKCtheta and BCL10 control caspase-8 activation. Our results suggest that PKCtheta independently controls CARMA1 phosphorylation and BCL10-dependent caspase-8 activation and unveil an essential role for TRAF6 as a critical adaptor linking these two convergent signaling events.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / metabolism
  • Caspase 8 / genetics
  • Caspase 8 / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
  • Guanylate Cyclase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / physiology
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase C-theta
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Isoenzymes
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • PRKCQ protein, human
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Protein Kinase C-theta
  • Caspase 8
  • CARD11 protein, human
  • Guanylate Cyclase