Abstract
Linker for Activation of T cells (LAT) is an adapter protein that is essential for T cell function. Knock-in mice with a LAT mutation impairing calcium flux develop a fatal CD4+ lymphoproliferative disease. miR-155 is a microRNA that is correlated with hyperproliferation in a number of cancers including lymphomas and leukemias and is overexpressed in mutant LAT T cells. To test whether miR-155 was merely indicative of T cell activation or whether it contributes to lymphoproliferative disease in mutant LAT mice, we interbred LAT mutant and miR-155-deficient mice. miR-155 deficiency markedly inhibited lymphoproliferative disease by stimulating BIM-dependent CD4+ T cell apoptosis, even though ERK activation and T cell proliferation were increased in double mutant CD4+ T cells. Bim/Bcl2l11 expression is activated by the forkhead transcription factor FOXO3. Using miR-155-deficient, LAT mutant T cells as a discovery tool, we found two connected pathways that impact the nuclear translocation and activation of FOXO3 in T cells. One pathway is mediated by the inositide phosphatase SHIP-1 and the serine/threonine kinases AKT and PDK1. The other pathway involves PAK1 and JNK kinase activation. We define crosstalk between the two pathways via the kinase mTOR, which stabilizes PAK1. This study establishes a role for PAK1 in T cell apoptosis, which contrasts to its previously identified role in T cell proliferation. Furthermore, miR-155 regulates the delicate balance between PAK1-mediated proliferation and apoptosis in T cells impacting lymphoid organ size and function.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
MeSH terms
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics*
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
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Animals
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
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Apoptosis*
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Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
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Cell Proliferation
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Forkhead Box Protein O3
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Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Humans
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Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases
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Jurkat Cells
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Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
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Lymphoproliferative Disorders / genetics
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Lymphoproliferative Disorders / immunology
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Lymphoproliferative Disorders / pathology
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Membrane Proteins / genetics*
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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MicroRNAs / genetics
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MicroRNAs / metabolism*
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Mutation / genetics
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Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases
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Phosphoproteins / genetics*
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Phosphoproteins / metabolism
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Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
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Signal Transduction*
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T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
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p21-Activated Kinases / metabolism
Substances
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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BCL2L11 protein, human
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Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
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Bcl2l11 protein, mouse
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Forkhead Box Protein O3
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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FoxO3 protein, mouse
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Lat protein, mouse
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Membrane Proteins
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MicroRNAs
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Mirn155 microRNA, mouse
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Phosphoproteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Pak1 protein, mouse
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TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
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p21-Activated Kinases
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Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
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Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases
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INPP5D protein, human
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Inpp5d protein, mouse
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Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases