The Juxtamembrane Domain of Butyrophilin BTN3A1 Controls Phosphoantigen-Mediated Activation of Human Vγ9Vδ2 T Cells

International audienceVγ9Vδ2 T lymphocytes are the major human peripheral γδ T cell subset, with broad reactivity against stressed human cells, including tumor cells. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are specifically activated by small phosphorylated metabolites called phosphoantigens (PAg). Stress-induced changes in target cell PAg levels are specifically detected by butyrophilin (BTN)3A1, using its intracellular B30.2 domain. This leads to the activation of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. In this study, we show that changes in the juxtamembrane domain of BTN3A1, but not its transmembrane domain, induce a markedly enhanced or reduced γδ T cell reactivity. There is thus a specific requirement for BTN3A1's juxtamembrane domain for correct γδ T cell-related function. This work identified, as being of particular importance, a juxtamembrane domain region of BTN3A molecules identified as a possible dimerization interface and that is located close to the start of the B30.2 domain

RhoB Mediates Phosphoantigen Recognition by Vg9Vd2 T Cell Receptor

International audienceHighlights d Identification of SNPs near RhoB is associated with poor Vg9Vd2 T cell activation d RhoB activity and distribution in tumor cells modulate Vg9Vd2 T cell activation d Relocalization of RhoB induces membrane immobility of BTN3A1 d Tumor recognition by a Vg9Vd2 TCR depends on BTN3A1 conformation In Brief Sebestyen et al. show that Vg9Vd2TCR activation is modulated by the GTPase activity of RhoB in tumor cells, and by the relocalization of RhoB to BTN3A1. Subsequently, a phosphoantigen-induced conformational change in BTN3A1 leads to its recognition by Vg9Vd2TCRs

Key implication of CD277/butyrophilin-3 (BTN3A) in cellular stress sensing by a major human γδ T-cell subset

International audienceAbstract Human peripheral Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are activated by phosphorylated metabolites (phosphoagonists [PAg]) of the mammalian mevalonate or the microbial desoxyxylulose-phosphate pathways accumulated by infected or metabolically distressed cells. The underlying mechanisms are unknown. We show that treatment of nonsusceptible target cells with antibody 20.1 against CD277, a member of the extended B7 superfamily related to butyrophilin, mimics PAg-induced Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation and that the Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell receptor is implicated in this effect. Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation can be abrogated by exposing susceptible cells (tumor and mycobacteria-infected cells, or aminobisphosphonate-treated cells with up-regulated PAg levels) to antibody 103.2 against CD277. CD277 knockdown and domain-shuffling approaches confirm the key implication of the CD277 isoform BTN3A1 in PAg sensing by Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments support a causal link between intracellular PAg accumulation, decreased BTN3A1 membrane mobility, and ensuing Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation. This study demonstrates a novel role played by B7-like molecules in human γδ T-cell antigenic activation and paves the way for new strategies to improve the efficiency of immunotherapies using Vγ9Vδ2 T cells