Regulation of Cbl molecular interactions by the co-receptor molecule CD43 in human T cells.

CD43, one of the most abundant glycoproteins on the T cell surface, has been implicated in selection and maturation of thymocytes and migration, adhesion, and activation of mature T cells. The adapter molecule Cbl has been shown to be a negative regulator of Ras. Furthermore, it may also regulate intracellular signaling through the formation of several multi-molecular complexes. Here we investigated the role of Cbl in the CD43-mediated signaling pathway in human T cells. Unlike T cell receptor signaling, the interaction of the adapter protein Cbl with Vav and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, resulting from CD43-specific signals, is independent of Cbl tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting an alternative mechanism of interaction. CD43 signals induced a Cbl serine phosphorylation-dependent interaction with the tau-isoform of 14-3-3. protein. Protein kinase C-mediated Cbl serine phosphorylation was required for this interaction, because the PKC inhibitor RO-31-8220 prevented it, as well as 14-3-3 dimerization. Moreover, mutation of Cbl serine residues 619, 623, 639, and 642 abolished the interaction between Cbl and 14-3-3. Overexpression of Cbl in Jurkat cells inhibited the CD43-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and AP-1 transcriptional activity, confirming nevertheless a negative role for Cbl in T cell signaling. However, under normal conditions, PKC activation resulting from CD43 engagement was required to activate the MAPK pathway, suggesting that phosphorylation of Cbl on serine residues by PKC and its association with 14-3-3 molecules may play a role in preventing the Cbl inhibitory effect on the Ras-MAPK pathway. These data suggest that by inducing its phosphorylation on serine residues, CD43-mediated signals may regulate the molecular associations and functions of the Cbl adapter protein.

T cell activation through the CD43 molecule leads to Vav tyrosine phosphorylation and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation.

CD43, the most abundant membrane protein of T lymphocytes, is able to initiate signals that lead to Ca2+ mobilization and interleukin-2 production, yet the molecular events involved in signal transduction pathway of the CD43 molecule are only beginning to be understood. We have shown recently that cross-linking CD43 on the cell surface of human T lymphocytes with the anti-CD43 monoclonal antibody L10 leads to CD43-Fyn kinase interactions and to Fyn phosphorylation on tyrosine residues. This interaction seems to be mediated by the SH3 domain of Fyn and a proline-rich sequence located in the cytoplasmic domain of CD43. Here we show that CD43-specific activation of human T lymphocytes induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the adaptor protein Shc and of the guanine exchange factor Vav, as well as the formation of a macromolecular complex that comprises Shc, GRB2, and Vav. CD43 ligation resulted in enhanced formation of Vav.SLP-76 complexes and in the activation and nuclear translocation of ERK2. Cross-linking of the CD43 molecule in 3T3-CD43(+) cells induced luciferase activity from a construct under the control of the Fos serum responsive element. Altogether, these data suggest that the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is involved in CD43-dependent interleukin-2 gene expression.

CD43-specific activation of T cells induces association of CD43 to Fyn kinase.

CD43, the most abundant membrane protein of T lymphocytes, is able to initiate signal transduction pathways that lead to Ca2+ mobilization and interleukin-2 production, yet the molecular events involved in CD43's signal transduction pathway are poorly understood. In the present report we show that activation of both purified T lymphocytes and Jurkat cells, through CD43 cross-linking with the anti-CD43 L10 monoclonal antibody, induced CD43 association to Fyn kinase. This association is mediated by the Src homology 3 (SH3) domain of Fyn, since a glutathione S-transferase-Fyn SH3 fusion protein was able to precipitate CD43 from lysates of CD43-activated T cells. A synthetic peptide containing the SH3 binding sites of p85, located within the amino acid sequence 300ERQPAPALPPKPPKP314, was able to inhibit binding of CD43 to Fyn as well as to the glutathione S-transferase-Fyn SH3 fusion protein. We also provide evidence that upon CD43 cross-linking, Fyn is tyrosine-phosphorylated in a time-dependent manner. Our results suggest that CD43 cross-linking on the T cell surface induces the interaction between CD43 and Fyn, presumably through the Fyn SH3 domain and a putative SH3 binding site in CD43, leading to Fyn tyrosine phosphorylation and signal propagation.