A DOCK8-WIP-WASp complex links T cell receptors to the actin cytoskeleton

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is associated with mutations in the WAS protein (WASp), which plays a critical role in the initiation of T cell receptor-driven (TCR-driven) actin polymerization. The clinical phenotype of WAS includes susceptibility to infection, allergy, autoimmunity, and malignancy and overlaps with the symptoms of dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) deficiency, suggesting that the 2 syndromes share common pathogenic mechanisms. Here, we demonstrated that the WASpinteracting protein (WIP) bridges DOCK8 to WASp and actin in T cells. We determined that the guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity of DOCK8 is essential for the integrity of the subcortical actin cytoskeleton as well as for TCR-driven WASp activation, F-actin assembly, immune synapse formation, actin foci formation, mechanotransduction, T cell transendothelial migration, and homing to lymph nodes, all of which also depend on WASp. These results indicate that DOCK8 and WASp are in the same signaling pathway that links TCRs to the actin cytoskeleton in TCR-driven actin assembly. Further, they provide an explanation for similarities in the clinical phenotypes of WAS and DOCK8 deficiency

A DOCK8-WIP-WASp complex links T cell receptors to the actin cytoskeleton

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is associated with mutations in the WAS protein (WASp), which plays a critical role in the initiation of T cell receptor–driven (TCR-driven) actin polymerization. The clinical phenotype of WAS includes susceptibility to infection, allergy, autoimmunity, and malignancy and overlaps with the symptoms of dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) deficiency, suggesting that the 2 syndromes share common pathogenic mechanisms. Here, we demonstrated that the WASp-interacting protein (WIP) bridges DOCK8 to WASp and actin in T cells. We determined that the guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity of DOCK8 is essential for the integrity of the subcortical actin cytoskeleton as well as for TCR-driven WASp activation, F-actin assembly, immune synapse formation, actin foci formation, mechanotransduction, T cell transendothelial migration, and homing to lymph nodes, all of which also depend on WASp. These results indicate that DOCK8 and WASp are in the same signaling pathway that links TCRs to the actin cytoskeleton in TCR-driven actin assembly. Further, they provide an explanation for similarities in the clinical phenotypes of WAS and DOCK8 deficiency.United States. Public Health Service (RO1AI114588)United States. Public Health Service (K08AI114968

Role of the chaperone molecules, UNC93B1 and invariant chain, in TLR7 and 9 signaling in B cells

La connaissance du système immunitaire est une étape clé dans la compréhension et la prévention des infections bactériennes, virales, des maladies auto-immunes et du cancer. Les lymphocytes B (LB) sont spécialisés dans la fonction de présentation de l'antigène et sont responsables de la production d'anticorps de haute affinité qui permettent l'élimination des agents infectieux. Après l'engagement du récepteur des cellules B (BCR), les LB polarisent rapidement leur centre organisateur des microtubules (MTOC) et les molécules du CMH de classe II vers l'interface BCR-Antigen (Ag), ce qui déclenche la libération de protéases lysosomales permettant l'extraction de l Ag immobilisé à la surface des macrophages ou cellules dendritiques, un processus essentiel pour les LB à acquérir leur fonction de présentation antigénique. Toutefois, la signalisation par le BCR n'est pas le seul facteur déterminant dans l'activation des cellules B périphériques. La reconnaissance des motifs moléculaires de virus et bactéries par les Toll Like Receptors (TLRs) est importante dans la perte de tolérance des cellules B. Les TLR sont divisés en deux familles: les TLR1, 2, 4, 5, 6 et 11, qui détectent la présence de protéines et lipides bactériens et sont exprimés à la membrane plasmique, et les TLR3, 7-8 et 9, localisés dans les endosomes et qui détectent la présence d ARN simple brin, ou double brin et ADN non méthylé respectivement. Compte tenu de leur localisation endosomale, les TLR3, 7, 8 et 9 sont des acteurs clés dans la discrimination entre le soi non-infectieux et le non-soi infectieux. Dans les cellules dendritiques, les TLR7 et 9 sont retenus dans le réticulum endoplasmique avec une molécule chaperonne, UNC93B1. Suite à leur stimulation, ils migrent vers les compartiments lysosomaux où ils subissent un clivage protéolytique par l'AEP, une asparagine endopeptidase, pour être fonctionnels. D'autre part, il a été récemment montré que les molécules MHC de classe II intracellulaires sont capables de promouvoir l activation complète des TLR3, 4 et 9 via une interaction directe avec la tyrosine kinase Btk dans les macrophages et les cellules dendritiques. Notre travail a porté sur l identification de nouvelles molécules régulant la signalisation des TLR7 et 9 dans les cellules B. Nos résultats, jusqu'à présent, montrent que la signalisation du TLR7 mais pas celle du TLR9 semble être régulée par la molécule chaperone associée au CMHII, la chaîne invariante ou Ii. En effet, dans les cellules B, au repos et après stimulation, le TLR7 réside dans les lysosomes avec la chaîne invariante. Après stimulation, la chaîne invariante interagit spécifiquement avec TLR7 et sa molécule adaptatrice MyD88 favorisant la sécrétion des cytokines pro-inflammatoires telles que L IL-6 et le TNF-a. Étonnamment, en absence de Ii ou lorsque l'expression de Ii est diminuée suite à une infection virale, TLR7, mais pas TLR9, relocalise dans le réticulum endoplasmique (RE) conduisant ainsi à une exacerbation des fonctions innées du TLR7 telles que la production des cytokines, mais pas les fonctions adaptatives du TLR7 telles que la présentation croisée associée aux molécules de classe I. Ces résultats suggèrent un nouveau rôle pour la chaîne invariante en agissant comme un régulateur négatif de la signalisation du TLR7.Knowledge of the immune system is a key step in the understanding and prevention of bacterial, viral infections, autoimmune diseases and cancer. B Lymphocytes (BL) are specialized in the function of antigen presentation and are responsible for the production of high affinity antibodies that allow the elimination of infectious agents. After the engagement of the B Cell Receptor (BCR) , BL rapidly polarize their microtubule organizing center (MTOC) and MHC class II molecules towards the BCR- Antigen (Ag) interface, which triggers the release of lysosomal proteases allowing the extraction of immobilized Ag present on the surface of macrophages or dendritic cells. This process is essential for LB to acquire their antigen presenting function. However, the BCR signaling is not the only determining factor in the activation of peripheral B cells. Recognition of molecular patterns from viruses and bacteria by Toll Like Receptors (TLRs) is important in the loss of B cell tolerance. TLRs are divided into two families: TLR 1 , 2, 4 , 5, 6 and 11, which detect the presence of bacterial proteins and lipids and are expressed at the plasma membrane, and TLR3 , 7-8 and 9 , located in the endosomes and detect the presence of single-stranded RNA, double-stranded RNA and unmethylated DNA respectively. Given their endosomal localization, TLR3, 7, 8 and 9 are key players in the discrimination between the non-infectious self and the infectious non- self. In dendritic cells, TLR7 and 9 are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum with a chaperone molecule, UNC93B1. Following their stimulation, they migrate to the lysosomal compartments where they undergo a proteolytic cleavage by AEP, an asparagine endopeptidase, to be functional. On the other hand, it has recently been shown that MHC class II molecules are able to promote intracellular full activation of TLR3, 4 and 9 through a direct interaction with the Bruton s tyrosine kinase Btk in macrophages and dendritic cells. Our work has focused on the identification of new signaling molecules that regulate TLR7 and 9 function in B cells. Our results, so far, show that TLR7 and not TLR9 signaling is regulated by the chaperone molecule associated with MHC class II, the invariant chain Ii. Indeed, in resting and stimulated B cells, TLR7 resides in lysosomes with the invariant chain. Upon stimulation, the invariant chain interacts specifically with TLR7 and its adaptor molecule MyD88 promoting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-a. Surprisingly, in the absence of Ii or when the expression of Ii is reduced due to a viral infection, TLR7, but not TLR9, relocates in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leading to an exacerbation of the innate functions of TLR7 such as the production of cytokines, but not TLR7 adaptive responses such as cross-presentation associated with MHC class I molecules. These results suggest a new role for the invariant chain by acting as a negative regulator of TLR7 signaling in B cells.PARIS5-Bibliotheque electronique (751069902) / SudocSudocFranceF

Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5), IL-1β secretion, and asparagine endopeptidase are critical factors for alveolar macrophage phagocytosis and bacterial killing.

International audienceA deficit in early clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is crucial in nosocomial pneumonia and in chronic lung infections. Few studies have addressed the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are early pathogen associated molecular pattern receptors, in pathogen uptake and clearance by alveolar macrophages (AMs). Here, we report that TLR5 engagement is crucial for bacterial clearance by AMs in vitro and in vivo because unflagellated P. aeruginosa or different mutants defective in TLR5 activation were resistant to AM phagocytosis and killing. In addition, the clearance of PAK (a wild-type P. aeruginosa strain) by primary AMs was causally associated with increased IL-1β release, which was dramatically reduced with PAK mutants or in WT PAK-infected primary TLR5(-/-) AMs, demonstrating the dependence of IL-1β production on TLR5. We showed that this IL-1β production was important in endosomal pH acidification and in inducing the killing of bacteria by AMs through asparagine endopeptidase (AEP), a key endosomal cysteine protease. In agreement, AMs from IL-1R1(-/-) and AEP(-/-) mice were unable to kill P. aeruginosa. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that TLR5 engagement plays a major role in P. aeruginosa internalization and in triggering IL-1β formation

Cytoskeletal tension actively sustains the migratory T‐cell synaptic contact

When migratory T cells encounter antigen-presenting cells (APCs), they arrest and form radially symmetric, stable intercellular junctions termed immunological synapses which facilitate exchange of crucial biochemical information and are critical for T-cell immunity. While the cellular processes underlying synapse formation have been well characterized, those that maintain the symmetry, and thereby the stability of the synapse, remain unknown. Here we identify an antigen-triggered mechanism that actively promotes T-cell synapse symmetry by generating cytoskeletal tension in the plane of the synapse through focal nucleation of actin via Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP), and contraction of the resultant actin filaments by myosin II. Following T-cell activation, WASP is degraded, leading to cytoskeletal unraveling and tension decay, which result in synapse breaking. Thus, our study identifies and characterizes a mechanical program within otherwise highly motile T cells that sustains the symmetry and stability of the T cell–APC synaptic contact

Sequences of primers used to TLR7 constructs.

<p>The N-terminal insert was generated by two PCRs in order to add a HA-tag, using the first PCR product as template for the second PCR. In order to target the C-terminal constructs to the ER, the leader sequence from murine MHC class I was added by synthesis. The leader-coding oligonucleotide was subsequently inserted in front of the C-terminal previously cloned into pcDNA3.1. The full-length mTLR7 construct was mutagenized in its Asn 478 into Gln using the Quick-change mutagenesis kit (Stratagene).</p

AEP activity is required for full cytokine production following TLR7 stimulation.

<p>(A, B) IL-6, KC or IFN-α secretions in supernatants of AEP^+/+ (white bars) or AEP^−/− (black bars) lung primary epithelial cells (A) or pDCs activated (B) with 10 µg/mL of imiquimod or with the IAV virus PR8 heat killed (HK) or live at a multiplicity of infection = 1 or 5 for 16 h or 24 h. (n = 2–3; mean ± SEM, * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001). (C) BMDCs from AEP^−/− mice (black bars) and from their wild type littermates (white bars) were stimulated with different TLR ligands for 16 h and secretion of IL-6, IL-12p40 and TNF-α in supernatants was measured by ELISA. (n = 2–6, mean ± SEM, * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001).</p

TLR7 C-ter is functional and requires acidic environment.

<p>(A) IL-6 secretion in TLR7^−/− BMDCs transfected with pcDNA3.1, FL, C-ter or N-ter TLR7 cDNAs and stimulated with 5 µg/mL of imiquimod or 10 ng/mL of LPS for 16 h. (n = 3–4; mean ± SEM, * p<0.05, ** p<0.01). (B) IL-6 secretion in TLR7^−/− BMDCs transfected with FL or C-ter TLR7 and stimulated with imiquimod as above and treated with or without 25 µM MV026630 (AEP inhibitor). (n = 3; mean ± SEM, * p<0.05). (C) IL-6 secretion in BMDCs activated with either 5 µg/mL imiquimod or 10 ng/mL LPS for 16 h, in the presence or not of 20 nM of concanamycin B. (n = 3; mean ± SEM, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001). (D) IL-6 secretion in TLR7^−/− BMDCs transfected with FL or C-ter TLR7 and stimulated with imiquimod and treated as above. (n = 3; mean ± SEM, * p<0.05).</p