title: CD69-triggered ERK activation and functions are negatively regulated by CD94 / NKG2-A inhibitory receptor.
abstract: CD69 represents a functional triggering molecule on activated NK and T cells, capable of inducing cytotoxic activity and costimulating cytokine production. It belongs to the C-lectin type superfamily, and its gene maps in the NK gene complex, close to other genes coding for NK receptors. CD94 / NKG2-A complex is the inhibitory receptor for the non classical MHC class I molecule HLA-E on human NK cells. To investigate CD69-initiated signal transduction pathways, and to evaluate CD94 / NKG2-A interference on CD69 triggering ability, we have generated transfectants expressing both receptors in the RBL cell line. Here we report that CD69 engagement leads to the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) enzymes belonging to the MAPK family, and that this event is required for CD69-mediated cell degranulation. Moreover, we show that the co-engagement of CD94 / NKG2-A inhibitory receptor effectively suppresses both CD69-triggered cell degranulation in RBL transfectants, through the inhibition of ERK activation, and CD69-induced cytotoxicity in human NK cells. Thus, here we provide new information on the molecular mechanisms initiated by CD69 activation receptor, and show that CD69-initiated signaling pathways and functional activity are negatively regulated by CD94 / NKG2-A inhibitory complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, University "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zingoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morrone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carretero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez-Botel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; C497869:KLRD1 protein, human; C527057:Klrc1 protein, mouse; C497870:Klrd1 protein, mouse