Orai1 and STIM1 move to the immunological synapse and are up-regulated during T cell activation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Feb 12;105(6):2011-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0706122105. Epub 2008 Feb 4.

Abstract

For efficient development of an immune response, T lymphocytes require long-lasting calcium influx through calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels and the formation of a stable immunological synapse (IS) with the antigen-presenting cell (APC). Recent RNAi screens have identified Stim and Orai in Drosophila cells, and their corresponding mammalian homologs STIM1 and Orai1 in T cells, as essential for CRAC channel activation. Here, we show that STIM1 and Orai1 are recruited to the immunological synapse between primary human T cells and autologous dendritic cells. Both STIM1 and Orai1 accumulated in the area of contact between either resting or super-antigen (SEB)-pretreated T cells and SEB-pulsed dendritic cells, where they were colocalized with T cell receptor (TCR) and costimulatory molecules. In addition, imaging of intracellular calcium signaling in T cells loaded with EGTA revealed significantly higher Ca2+ concentration near the interface, indicating Ca2+ influx localized at the T cell/dendritic cell contact area. Expression of a dominant-negative Orai1 mutant blocked T cell Ca2+ signaling but did not interfere with the initial accumulation of STIM1, Orai1, and CD3 in the contact zone. In activated T cell blasts, mRNA expression for endogenous STIM1 and all three human homologs of Orai was up-regulated, accompanied by a marked increase in Ca2+ influx through CRAC channels. These results imply a positive feedback loop in which an initial TCR signal favors up-regulation of STIM1 and Orai proteins that would augment Ca2+ signaling during subsequent antigen encounter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Channels / physiology*
  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Ion Transport
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • ORAI1 Protein
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stromal Interaction Molecule 1
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Up-Regulation*

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • ORAI1 Protein
  • ORAI1 protein, human
  • STIM1 protein, human
  • Stromal Interaction Molecule 1
  • Calcium