title: CD40 molecules induce down-modulation and endocytosis of T cell surface T cell-B cell activating molecule/CD40-L. Potential role in regulating helper effector function.
abstract: The T-BAM/CD40-L molecule on CD4+ T cells interacts with B cell CD40 molecules to deliver contact-dependent signals that drive B cell activation and Ig secretion. Cell surface T-BAM/CD40-L expression is transient and may be closely regulated in order to limit the activation and clonal selection of noncognate B cells. We demonstrate that B cells, but not non-B cells, rapidly and specifically down-modulate surface T-BAM/CD40-L expression in a contact-dependent and temperature-sensitive manner that renders T cells unable to activate resting bystander B cells. Because the ability to down-modulate T-BAM/CD40-L correlated with CD40 expression, the role of CD40 molecules in down-modulating its ligand was directly assessed. Anti-CD40 mAb, but not control mAb, block B cell-induced T-BAM/CD40-L down-modulation. Furthermore, CD40+ nonlymphoid transfectants specifically down-modulate surface T-BAM/CD40-L expression. B cells induce T-BAM/CD40-L internalization into cytoplasmic compartments in a process that is inhibited by cytochalasin B. Pretreatment of activated T cells with lysosomotropic agents does not affect CD40-induced down-modulation of surface T-BAM/CD40-L but results in a marked accumulation of T-BAM/CD40-L in cytoplasmic vesicles. Together, these studies strongly suggest that CD40 induced T-BAM/CD40-L down-modulation occurs, in part, by receptor-mediated endocytosis followed by lysosomal degradation and may represent a mechanism to regulate CD4+ T cell helper effector functions.
authors.affiliation: Deparmtent of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yellin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sippel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Inghirami
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Covey
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sinning
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chess
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lederman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004705:Endocytosis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand