Modulation of Kv1.3 channels by protein kinase A I in T lymphocytes is mediated by the disc large 1-tyrosine kinase Lck complex

Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2012 May 15;302(10):C1504-12. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00263.2011. Epub 2012 Feb 29.

Abstract

The cAMP/PKA signaling system constitutes an inhibitory pathway in T cells and, although its biochemistry has been thoroughly investigated, its possible effects on ion channels are still not fully understood. K(V)1.3 channels play an important role in T-cell activation, and their inhibition suppresses T-cell function. It has been reported that PKA modulates K(V)1.3 activity. Two PKA isoforms are expressed in human T cells: PKAI and PKAII. PKAI has been shown to inhibit T-cell activation via suppression of the tyrosine kinase Lck. The aim of this study was to determine the PKA isoform modulating K(V)1.3 and the signaling pathway underneath. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP), a nonselective activator of PKA, inhibited K(V)1.3 currents both in primary human T and in Jurkat cells. This inhibition was prevented by the PKA blocker PKI(6-22). Selective knockdown of PKAI, but not PKAII, with siRNAs abolished the response to 8-BrcAMP. Additional studies were performed to determine the signaling pathway mediating PKAI effect on K(V)1.3. Overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of Lck reduced the response of K(V)1.3 to 8-Br-cAMP. Moreover, knockdown of the scaffolding protein disc large 1 (Dlg1), which binds K(V)1.3 to Lck, abolished PKA modulation of K(V)1.3 channels. Immunohistochemistry studies showed that PKAI, but not PKAII, colocalizes with K(V)1.3 and Dlg1 indicating a close proximity between these proteins. These results indicate that PKAI selectively regulates K(V)1.3 channels in human T lymphocytes. This effect is mediated by Lck and Dlg1. We thus propose that the K(V)1.3/Dlg1/Lck complex is part of the membrane pathway that cAMP utilizes to regulate T-cell function.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / pharmacology
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I / physiology*
  • Discs Large Homolog 1 Protein
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Kv1.3 Potassium Channel / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / physiology*
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / enzymology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • DLG1 protein, human
  • Discs Large Homolog 1 Protein
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Kv1.3 Potassium Channel
  • Membrane Proteins
  • 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I