title: Distinct signaling properties identify functionally different CD4 epitopes.
abstract: The CD4 coreceptor interacts with non-polymorphic regions of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells and contributes to T cell activation. We have investigated the effect of CD4 triggering on T cell activating signals in a lymphoma model using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) which recognize different CD4 epitopes. We demonstrate that CD4 triggering delivers signals capable of activating the NF-AT transcription factor which is required for interleukin-2 gene expression. Whereas different anti-CD4 mAb or HIV-1 gp120 could all trigger activation of the protein tyrosine kinases p56lck and p59fyn and phosphorylation of the Shc adaptor protein, which mediates signals to Ras, they differed significantly in their ability to activate NF-AT. Lack of full activation of NF-AT could be correlated to a dramatically reduced capacity to induce calcium flux and could be complemented with a calcium ionophore. The results identify functionally distinct epitopes on the CD4 coreceptor involved in activation of the Ras/protein kinase C and calcium pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Baldari
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Milia
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Di Somma
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valitutti
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Telford
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D000939:Epitopes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck); D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D011940:Receptor Aggregation; D055765:Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000071425:Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C528024:SHC1 protein, human; D055765:Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D000071425:Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C494957:FYN protein, human; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck); D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D002118:Calcium