Functional defects of SKAP-55-deficient T cells identify a regulatory role for the adaptor in LFA-1 adhesion

Mol Cell Biol. 2007 Oct;27(19):6863-75. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00556-07. Epub 2007 Jul 23.

Abstract

The ADAP-SKAP-55 module regulates T-cell receptor (TCR)-induced integrin clustering and adhesion in T cells. However, it has been unclear whether ADAP and/or SKAP-55 is an effector of the response. ADAP controls SKAP-55 expression such that ADAP(-/-) T cells are also deficient in SKAP-55 expression. In this study, we report the phenotype of the SKAP-55-deficient mouse. SKAP-55(-/-) T cells retain ADAP expression yet show defects in beta1 and beta2 integrin adhesion, leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) clustering, production of the cytokines interleukin-2 and gamma interferon, and proliferation. This dependency was also reflected in more-transient conjugation times in response to the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A on dendritic cells and a reduced number of cells with TCR/CD3 microcluster localization at the immunological synapse. SKAP-55(-/-) T cells showed the same general impairment of function as ADAP(-/-) T cells, indicating that SKAP-55 is an effector of the ADAP-SKAP-55 module. At the same time, the requirement for ADAP and SKAP-55 was not absolute, since a subset of peripheral T cells adhered with loss of expression of either adaptor. Further, dependency on SKAP-55 or ADAP differed with the strength of the TCR signal. As with the ADAP(-/-) mouse, SKAP-55-deficient mice showed no major effects on lymphoid development or the appearance of peripheral T cells, B cells, and NK cells. Our findings identify a clear effector role for SKAP-55 in LFA-1 adhesion in peripheral T cells and demonstrate that dependency on SKAP-55 and ADAP differs among T cells and differs with the strength of the TCR signal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Thymus Gland / cytology
  • Thymus Gland / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • SKAP55 protein, mouse
  • Interferon-gamma