TCR signaling leads to the activation of kinases such as inducible tyrosine kinase (Itk), a key regulatory protein in T-lymphocyte activation and function. The homolog of Itk in B cells is Bruton's tyrosine kinase, previously shown to bind and phosphorylate the transcription factor TFII-I. TFII-I plays major roles in transcription and signaling. Our purpose herein was twofold: first, to identify some of the molecular determinants involved in TFII-I activation downstream of receptor crosslinking in T cells and second, to uncover the existence of Itk-TFII-I signaling in T lymphocytes. We report for the first time that TFII-I is tyrosine phosphorylated upon TCR, TCR/CD43, and TCR/CD28 co-receptor engagement in human and/or murine T cells. We show that Itk physically interacts with TFII-I and potentiates TFII-Idriven c-fos transcription. We demonstrate that TFII-I is phosphorylated upon co-expression of WT, but not kinase-dead, or kinase-dead/R29C mutant Itk, suggesting these residues are important for TFII-I phosphorylation, presumably via an Itk-dependent mechanism. Structural analysis of TFII-I-Itk interactions revealed that the first 90 residues of TFII-I are dispensable for Itk binding. Mutations within Itk's kinase, pleckstrin-homology, and prolinerich regions did not abolish TFII-I-Itk binding. Our results provide an initial step in understanding the biological role of Itk-TFII-I signaling in T-cell function.Key words: Co-stimulation . Inducible tyrosine kinase . T-cell receptors . T-cell signaling .
Transcription factor TFII-I See accompanying commentary by AugustSupporting Information available online
IntroductionT-lymphocyte activation through the TCR and other co-stimulatory molecules results in the initiation of downstream signaling cascades, which involve a vast array of protein kinases, phosphatases, adaptor molecules, and ultimately, transcription factors. The selectivity or redundancy of given signaling pathways demands a tight and co-ordinated spatio-temporal regulation in order to ensure proper T-cell function. One key regulatory enzyme that is activated upon TCR engagement is the hematopoietic non-receptor tyrosine kinase, inducible tyrosine kinase (Itk), a protein recognized for its
2584importance in T-lymphocyte development, activation, and function [1,2]. Itk is a member of the Tec family of kinases and is expressed in T cells, NKT cells, and mast cells [1,3]. Of the three members expressed in ab TCR 1 T cells (Itk, Rlk, and Tec), Itk exhibits the highest level of expression [1,3].The homolog of Itk in B cells is Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), and contrary to what is known about Btk -where Btk mutations are responsible for the immunodeficiencies, X-linked agammaglobulinemia in humans [4,5] and X-linked immunodeficiency (Xid) in mice [6,7] -no naturally occurring mutations have been described for Itk. However, mice deficient in Itk have impaired thymic development, T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, and exhibit defects in T-cell activation processes downstream of the TCR [1,3].Previous...