Coordination of IL-7 receptor and T-cell receptor signaling by cell-division cycle 42 in T-cell homeostasis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Oct 26;107(43):18505-10. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1010249107. Epub 2010 Oct 11.

Abstract

T-cell homeostasis is essential for normal functioning of the immune system. IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) and T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling are pivotal for T-cell homeostatic regulation. The detailed mechanisms regulating T-cell homeostasis and how IL-7R and TCR signaling are coordinated are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that T cell-specific deletion of cell-division cycle 42 (Cdc42) GTPase causes a profound loss of mature T cells. Deletion of Cdc42 leads to a markedly increased expression of growth factor independence-1 (Gfi-1) and represses expression of IL-7Rα. In the absence of Cdc42, aberrant ERK1/2 MAP kinase activity results in enhanced, TCR-mediated T-cell proliferation. In vivo reconstitution of effector-binding-defective Cdc42 mutants and the effector p21 protein-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) into Cdc42-deficient T cells showed that PAK1 is both necessary and sufficient for Cdc42-regulated T-cell homeostasis. Thus, T-cell homeostasis is maintained through a concerted regulation of Gfi-1-IL-7R-controlled cytokine responsiveness and ERK-mediated TCR signaling strength by the Cdc42-PAK1 signaling axis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Homeostasis
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / deficiency
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • p21-Activated Kinases / genetics
  • p21-Activated Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Gfi1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Pak1 protein, mouse
  • p21-Activated Kinases
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein