Inhibition of TCR/CD3-mediated signaling by a mutant of the hematopoietically expressed G16 GTP-binding protein.

We have investigated the role of the hematopoietically expressed G16 GTP-binding protein on T cell activation. We constructed transfectants of Jurkat T cells that express a function-deficient mutant of G alpha 16 predicted to prevent activation of this G protein. Upon stimulation with anti-CD3 epsilon antibodies, mutant G alpha 16 transfectants display a profound defect in the production of IL-2 and IL-10, as well as in the expression of CD69. In contrast, the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced IL-10 production and CD69 expression, and the ionomycin plus PMA-induced IL-2 production are not affected. Consistent with the reduction in cytokine production is the inhibition of early signaling events in the mutant G alpha 16-expressing cells. There are significant reductions in anti-epsilon-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of zeta, epsilon, ZAP-70, and phospholipase C gamma 1, as well as in intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. In accordance with the effects on tyrosine phosphorylation is the reduction of TCR/CD3-mediated Fyn and Lck activities in G alpha 16 mutant cells. Even though the mechanism through which the G alpha 16 mutant mediates inhibition of T cell activation is not known, the data suggest a model where G proteins become activated upon TCR/CD3 engagement and regulate the activation of tyrosine kinases and subsequent downstream signaling events that lead to the activation of cytokine genes.

Interaction between G proteins and tyrosine kinases upon T cell receptor.CD3-mediated signaling.

Engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR).CD3 complex results in the induction of multiple intracellular events, with protein tyrosine kinases playing a pivotal role in their initiation. Biochemical studies also exist suggesting the involvement of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins); however, the functional consequence of this participation in TCR.CD3-mediated signaling is unresolved. Here, we report TCR.CD3-mediated guanine nucleotide exchange among the 42-kDa G protein alpha subunits of the G alpha q/11 family, their physical association with CD3 epsilon, and the G alpha 11-dependent activation of phospholipase C beta. Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, however, abrogate TCR.CD3-mediated G protein activation. Quite interesting is the observation that cells transfected with a function-deficient mutant of G alpha 11 display diminished tyrosine phosphorylation of TCR.CD3 zeta and epsilon chains, as well as ZAP-70, upon anti-CD3 antibody triggering. These data indicate the involvement of the G alpha q/11 family in TCR.CD3 signaling at a step proximal to the receptor and suggest a reciprocal regulation between tyrosine kinases and G proteins in T cells.

Expression of GTP-binding protein alpha subunits in human thymocytes.

In this report, we investigate G protein alpha subunit diversity in human thymocytes, utilizing common properties shared by these genes and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Sequence analysis of PCR amplified gene portions, indicate the presence of members from all four G-protein families that have been described thus far. The alpha subunit genes identified are: G alpha i1-3 and G alpha z but not G alpha o from the Gi family, G alpha s from the Gs family, G alpha 11, G alpha q, and G alpha 16 from the Gq family, and G alpha 12 and G alpha 13 from the G12 family. Also in this report we present the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the human G alpha 13 cloned from a thymocyte cDNA library. The sequence of the human G alpha 13 has not been previously reported. Comparison of this sequence with the reported murine G alpha 13 shows > 90% identity at the deduced amino acid sequence level. We conclude that thymocytes represent a useful experimental system for the study of G protein involvement in immune responses and lymphocyte development.