Negative regulation of T cell activation and autoimmunity by the transmembrane adaptor protein LAB

Immunity. 2006 Nov;25(5):757-68. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2006.08.025. Epub 2006 Nov 2.

Abstract

LAB (linker for activation of B cells), also known as NTAL (non-T cell activation linker), is a LAT (linker for activation of T cells)-like adaptor protein that is expressed in B, NK, and mast cells. Its role in lymphocytes has not been clearly demonstrated. Here, we showed that aged LAB-deficient (Lat2(-/-)) mice developed an autoimmune syndrome. Lat2(-/-) T cells were hyperactivated and produced more cytokines than Lat2(+/+) T cells. Even though LAB was absent in naive T cells, LAB could be detected in activated Lat2(+/+) T cells. LAT-mediated signaling events were enhanced in Lat2(-/-) T cells; however, they were suppressed in T cells that overexpressed LAB. Mice with the Lat2 gene conditionally deleted from T cells also developed the autoimmune syndrome like Lat2(-/-) mice. Together, these data demonstrated an important role of LAB in limiting autoimmune response and exposed a mechanism regulating T cell activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / deficiency
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / immunology*
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / etiology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmunity*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression
  • Immunoblotting
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Membrane Proteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Membrane Proteins