Engagement of the T-cell receptor (TCR)results
IntroductionT-cell immune responses are coupled to activation of the T-cell receptor (TCR). Stimulation of this receptor results in the activation of signal transduction pathways, culminating in expression of cytokines and cellular proliferation. 1 Current models of antigen/ major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-induced T-cell activation are presented as ordered events with a sequential interaction of Src and ZAP-70/Syk protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) with the TCR/CD3/ complex. Specifically, TCR engagement activates the Src family PTKs Lck/Fyn, which phosphorylate the tyrosines present in the immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif (ITAM) [2][3][4] conserved in the CD3 and subunits of the TCR complex. 5,6 The ZAP-70/Syk PTKs then bind to the phosphorylated ITAMs via their respective SH2 domains, allowing their activation. 2,7,8 Once activated, ZAP-70/Syk kinases phosphorylate downstream, signaling intermediates such as Vav, Lat, and SLP-76 that are required for appropriate recruitment of downstream signaling cascades.ZAP-70 and Syk are structurally homologous; both proteins are composed of 2 tandemly arranged Src homology 2 (SH2) domains and a carboxy-terminal kinase domain. 7,9 Overall, these 2 kinases share more than 50% sequence identity with conserved tyrosine and serine phosphorylation sites. Although these 2 PTKs have some overlapping functions, 1 it has been hypothesized that in vivo, they are nonredundant because of their distinct expression profiles. ZAP-70 was initially reported to be expressed exclusively in thymocytes, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, whereas Syk was described as being expressed in a wide variety of hematopoietic cells but in only low levels in peripheral T cells. 10 Nevertheless, it has since been shown that Syk is expressed at high levels in human CD4 ϩ effector T cells and a subpopulation of TCR-stimulated ␣ T cells. 1,11 Moreover, the expression of Syk is not limited to hematopoietic cells, as it has been detected in vascular endothelial cells, 12 in epithelial cells, and in breast tissue. 13 With regard to ZAP-70, this PTK now has been shown to be expressed throughout normal B-cell development, at least in mice. 14 In humans, ZAP-70 has recently been detected in a subset of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells, and importantly, its expression has been correlated with a poor prognosis. [15][16][17] The increased phosphorylation of Syk in ZAP-70-expressing CLL cells was the first indication that ZAP-70 may modulate the activity of Syk 18,19 rather than vice versa. Indeed, until these recent data were reported, Syk was assumed to be "superior" to ZAP-70, as its kinase activity is 100-fold higher than that of 20 it can be activated in an Lck-independent fashion, 21-25 and TCR-induced calcium flux is higher in the presence of Syk than 27 It has previously been shown that both Syk and ZAP-70 bind to Lck [28][29][30] and that in vitro, the 2 kinases bind to chain ITAMs with similar affinities. 31-33 Indeed, it has been hypo...