title: Interaction of GM-CSF and IL-3 with the common beta-chain of their receptors.
abstract: Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL-3) are cytokines active in both normal and abnormal hemopoiesis, inflammation, and immunity. Their biological activity is mediated via receptors that comprise a ligand-specific alpha chain and a beta chain that is common to the GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-5 receptors. To understand the mechanism of action of GM-CSF and IL-3 in both normal and pathological conditions, we are seeking to define the structural elements required for ligand/receptor and receptor/receptor contact and their role in cellular activation. To this end we have identified a conserved motif in the first helix of GM-CSF, Glu21 that is critical for high affinity binding and biological activity. Charge-reversal mutagenesis of this residue generates a GM-CSF analogue that is devoid of biological activity and can antagonize the activity of wild-type GM-CSF. This probably results from the selective deficiency in interaction with the beta chain of the receptor and suggests that similar antagonists for IL-3 and IL-5 are also feasible. Complementary mutagenesis studies on the receptor beta chain have identified the putative B'-C' loop in the membrane-proximal domain as being critical for the high affinity binding of GM-CSF but not IL-3. Characterization of the specificity of sites of interaction between the ligands and receptors may permit the design of specific or genetic antagonists that may have important therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Immunology, Hanson Centre for Cancer Research, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Woodcock
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Hercus
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007377:Interleukin-3; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D013006:Growth Hormone