CTLA-4 (CD152) can inhibit T cell activation by two different mechanisms depending on its level of cell surface expression

J Immunol. 2000 Aug 1;165(3):1352-6. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.165.3.1352.

Abstract

CTLA-4 (CD152) engagement results in down-regulation of T cell activation. Two mechanisms have been postulated to explain CTLA-4 inhibition of T cell activation: negative signaling and competitive antagonism of CD28:B7-mediated costimulation. We assessed the contributions of these two mechanisms using a panel of T cell lines expressing human CTLA-4 with mutations in the cytoplasmic region. Under conditions of B7-independent costimulation, inhibition of IL-2 production following CTLA-4 engagement required the CTLA-4 cytoplasmic region. In contrast, under B7-dependent costimulation, inhibition of IL-2 production by CTLA-4 engagement was directly proportional to CTLA-4 cell surface levels and did not require its cytoplasmic region. Thus, CTLA-4 down-regulates T cell activation by two different mechanisms-delivery of a negative signal or B7 sequestration-that are operational depending on the levels of CTLA-4 surface expression. These two mechanisms may have distinct functional outcomes: rapid inhibition of T cell activation or induction of T cell anergy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abatacept
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, Differentiation / biosynthesis*
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation / immunology*
  • Antigens, Differentiation / physiology
  • B7-1 Antigen / physiology
  • B7-2 Antigen
  • CD28 Antigens / immunology
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Cell Membrane / immunology
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cytoplasm / immunology
  • Down-Regulation / immunology
  • Doxycycline / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates*
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / physiology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Microspheres
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • B7-1 Antigen
  • B7-2 Antigen
  • CD28 Antigens
  • CD3 Complex
  • CD86 protein, human
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Interleukin-2
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Abatacept
  • Doxycycline