title: Costimulation requirement for AP-1 and NF-kappa B transcription factor activation in T cells.
abstract: The transcriptional activity of the IL-2 promoter requires T-cell costimulation delivered by the TCR and the auxiliary receptor CD28. Several transcription factors participate in IL-2 promoter activation, among which are AP-1-like factors and NF-kappa B. Protein phosphorylation has an important role in the regulation of these two factors: (1) it induces the transactivating capacity of the AP-1 protein c-Jun; and (2) it is involved in the release of the cytoplasmic inhibitor, I kappa B, from NF-kappa B, allowing translocation of the latter into the nucleus. We have recently shown that both phosphorylation processes require T-cell costimulation. Furthermore, in activated T cells, the kinetics of the two phosphorylation events are essentially similar. According to our results, however, the kinases responsible for the two processes are distinct entities. Whereas TPCK inhibits phosphorylation of I kappa B and, consequently, activation of NF-kappa B, it markedly enhances the activity of JNK, the MAP kinase-related kinase that phosphorylates the transactivation domain of c-Jun. We, therefore, propose the activation scheme presented in FIGURE 3 for T-cell costimulation. Costimulation results in the activation of a signaling pathway that leads to the simultaneous induction of the two transcription factors, AP-1 and NF-kappa B. Integration of the signals generated by TCR and CD28 engagement occurs along this pathway, which then bifurcates to induce I kappa B phosphorylation and NF-kappa B activation on the one hand, and JNK activation and c-Jun phosphorylation on the other. We are currently engaged in defining where the two signals integrate along the AP-1/NF-kappa B pathway.
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008156:Luciferases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008954:Models, Biological; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D016328:NF-kappa B; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D008156:Luciferases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate