ADP-ribosylation of P2X7: a matter of life and death for regulatory T cells and natural killer T cells

Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2015:384:107-26. doi: 10.1007/82_2014_420.

Abstract

ADP-ribosyltransferases comprise a family of enzymes originally discovered as bacterial toxins and later characterised also in mammals. In mice, the ADP-ribosyltransferase ARTC2.2 is expressed at the surface of T lymphocytes and has been studied extensively. In the presence of extracellular NAD(+), ARTC2.2 ADP-ribosylates several cell surface target proteins and thereby regulates their function. P2X7, an ATP-gated cation channel, has been discovered as a prominent ARTC2.2 target at the surface of mouse T cells. ADP-ribosylation of P2X7 in the presence of low micromolar extracellular NAD(+) induces long-lasting P2X7 activation and triggers cell death. Regulatory T cell subsets (Tregs and NKT cells) are remarkably sensitive to NAD(+)-induced cell death (NICD). Thus, liberation of endogenous NAD(+) by stressed cells is now viewed as a danger signal promoting immune responses by hindering regulatory T cells. This review will highlight the recent discoveries on the in vivo role of the ARTC2.2/P2X7 pathway triggered by the endogenous release of extracellular NAD(+), the relative sensitivity of lymphocytes subsets to this regulatory pathway and its pharmacological manipulation using camelid-derived ARTC2.2-blocking nanobodies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • ADP Ribose Transferases / genetics
  • ADP Ribose Transferases / metabolism*
  • Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Death
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • NAD / metabolism
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / cytology*
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / enzymology
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / genetics
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / enzymology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, Purinergic P2X7
  • NAD
  • Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose
  • ADP Ribose Transferases
  • ARTC2.2 protein, mouse