c-IAP ubiquitin protein ligase activity is required for 4-1BB signaling and CD8(+) memory T-cell survival

Eur J Immunol. 2015 Sep;45(9):2672-82. doi: 10.1002/eji.201445342. Epub 2015 Jul 7.

Abstract

Cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (c-IAP) 1 and 2 are widely expressed ubiquitin protein ligases that regulate a variety of cellular functions, including the sensitivity of T cells to costimulation. 4-1BB is a TNF receptor family member that signals via a complex that includes TRAF family members and the c-IAPs to upregulate NF-κB and ERK, and has been implicated in memory T-cell survival. Here, we show that effector and memory T cells from mice expressing a dominant negative E3-inactive c-IAP2 (c-IAP2(H570A)) have impaired signaling downstream of 4-1BB. When infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, unlike mice in which c-IAPs were acutely downregulated by c-IAP antagonists, the primary response of c-IAP2(H570A) mice was normal. However, the number of antigen-specific CD8(+) but not CD4(+) T cells declined more rapidly and to a greater extent in c-IAP2(H570A) mice than in WT controls. Studies with T-cell adoptive transfer demonstrated that the enhanced decay of memory cells was T-cell intrinsic. Thus, c-IAP E3 activity is required for 4-1BB coreceptor signaling and maintenance of CD8(+) T-cell memory.

Keywords: 4-1BB; CD8+ memory T cell; Signal transduction; T-cell memory; Ubiquitination; lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • Baculoviral IAP Repeat-Containing 3 Protein
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Immunologic Memory / genetics*
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / genetics
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / immunology
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / genetics
  • Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / immunology*
  • Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / pathology
  • Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / virology
  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / immunology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / immunology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / immunology
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
  • Baculoviral IAP Repeat-Containing 3 Protein
  • Birc2 protein, mouse
  • Birc3 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases