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Biomedical subjects

Atsushi Kosugi

Publications and source records attributed to Atsushi Kosugi.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Interaction of SAP-1, a transmembrane-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase, with the tyrosine kinase Lck. Roles in regulation of T cell function.

SAP-1 is a transmembrane-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase that is expressed in most tissues but whose physiological functions remain unknown. The cytoplasmic region of SAP-1 has now been shown to bind directly the tyrosine kinase Lck. Overexpression of wild-type SAP-1, but not that of a catalytically inactive mutant of SAP-1, inhibited both the basal and the T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-stimulated activity of Lck in human Jurkat T cell lines. Lck served as a direct substrate for dephosphorylation by SAP-1 in vitro. Overexpression of wild-type SAP-1 in Jurkat cells also: (i) inhibited both the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and the increase in cell surface expression of CD69 induced by TCR stimulation; (ii) reduced the extent of the TCR-induced increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP-70 or that of LAT; (iii) reduced both the basal level of tyrosine phosphorylation of p62dok, as well as the increase in the phosphorylation of this protein induced by CD2 stimulation; and (iv) inhibited cell migration. These results thus suggest that the direct interaction of SAP-1 with Lck results in inhibition of the kinase activity of the latter and a consequent negative regulation of T cell function.

Animals↗

Analysis of the mobility of signaling molecules in lymphocytes using fluorescence photobleaching techniques.

The earliest biochemical events at the plasma membrane that lead to gene activation appear to depend not only on the local concentration of signaling molecules, but also on the mobility of these molecules at the site of signaling. To elucidate the process of signal transduction after receptor engagement in the immune system, it is important to analyze the mobility of signaling molecules in living lymphocytes. Current knowledge of the changes in intracellular localization and dynamic movements of signaling molecules during lymphocyte activation is limited. Here, we describe a method for known as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, used to measure the diffusion mobility of a signaling molecule in a T cell line after T cell receptor stimulation. This method is a useful tool in studies of spatiotemporal regulation in immunoreceptor signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Dynamic changes in the mobility of LAT in aggregated lipid rafts upon T cell activation.

Lipid rafts are known to aggregate in response to various stimuli. By way of raft aggregation after stimulation, signaling molecules in rafts accumulate and interact so that the signal received at a given membrane receptor is amplified efficiently from the site of aggregation. To elucidate the process of lipid raft aggregation during T cell activation, we analyzed the dynamic changes of a raft-associated protein, linker for activation of T cells (LAT), on T cell receptor stimulation using LAT fused to GFP (LAT-GFP). When transfectants expressing LAT-GFP were stimulated with anti-CD3-coated beads, LAT-GFP aggregated and formed patches at the area of bead contact. Photobleaching experiments using live cells revealed that LAT-GFP in patches was markedly less mobile than that in nonpatched regions. The decreased mobility in patches was dependent on raft organization supported by membrane cholesterol and signaling molecule binding sites, especially the phospholipase C gamma 1 binding site in the cytoplasmic domain of LAT. Thus, although LAT normally moves rapidly at the plasma membrane, it loses its mobility and becomes stably associated with aggregated rafts to ensure organized and sustained signal transduction required for T cell activation.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Cutting edge: Fyn is essential for tyrosine phosphorylation of Csk-binding protein/phosphoprotein associated with glycolipid-enriched microdomains in lipid rafts in resting T cells.

In resting T cells, Csk is constitutively localized in lipid rafts by virtue of interaction with a phosphorylated adaptor protein, Csk-binding protein (Cbp)/phosphoprotein associated with glycolipid-enriched microdomains, and sets an activation threshold in TCR signaling. In this study, we examined a kinase responsible for Cbp phosphorylation in T cell membrane rafts. By analyzing T cells from Fyn-/- mice, we clearly demonstrated that Fyn, but not Lck, has its kinase activity in membrane rafts, and plays a critical role in Cbp phosphorylation, Cbp-Csk interaction, and Csk kinase activity. Naive CD44(low)CD62 ligand(high) T cells were substantially reduced in Fyn-/- mice, presumably due to the inhibition of Cbp phosphorylation. Thus, Fyn mediates Cbp-Csk interaction and recruits Csk to rafts by phosphorylating Cbp. Csk recruited to rafts would then be activated and inhibit the kinase activity of Lck to keep resting T cells in a quiescent state. Our results elucidate a negative regulatory role for Fyn in proximal TCR signaling in lipid rafts.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Essential role of MD-2 in LPS responsiveness and TLR4 distribution.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mediates lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling in a variety of cell types. MD-2 is associated with the extracellular domain of TLR4 and augments TLR4-dependent LPS responses in vitro. We show here that MD-2(-/-) mice do not respond to LPS, do survive endotoxic shock but are susceptible to Salmonella typhimurium infection. We found that in MD-2(-/-) embryonic fibroblasts, TLR4 was not able to reach the plasma membrane and predominantly resided in the Golgi apparatus, whereas TLR4 was distributed at the leading edge surface of cells in wild-type embryonic fibroblasts. Thus, MD-2 is essential for correct intracellular distribution and LPS-recognition of TLR4.

Animals↗

Lipid rafts as the signaling scaffold for NK cell activation: tyrosine phosphorylation and association of LAT with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and phospholipase C-gamma following CD2 stimulation.

Natural killer (NK) cells participate in both innate and adaptive immunity through the prompt secretion of cytokines and ability to lyse virally infected cells or tumor cells. Although it has been well understood that lipid rafts (rafts) and a raft-associated linker for activation of T cells (LAT) plays a central role in TCR signal transduction, there are still great gaps in our knowledge of the molecular events involved in NK cell activation. We show here that CD2 and rafts became polarized to the site of NK cell activation by CD2 cross-linking or target cell binding using confocal microscopy, and LAT and a significant amount of CD2 colocalized in raft fractions of sucrose-density gradient from an NK cell line, NK3.3. CD2 cross-linking strongly induced tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT, resulting in increased association with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) and phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1). In vitro binding studies using glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins demonstrated that a large portion of the association between LAT and PI 3-K or PLC-gamma1 was mediated through their SH2 domains in tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent manner. Furthermore, disruption of lipid rafts by cholesterol depletion from cell membranes using methyl-beta-cyclodextrin markedly reduced LAT tyrosine phosphorylation and NK cell functions, including cytotoxicity and granule exocytosis. These results document that modulation of raft integrity by aggregation of NK cell activating receptors, which leads to the formation of complexes of LAT with PI 3-K and PLC-gamma1, is essential for the NK cell lytic mechanisms.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Gene expression profile of renal proximal tubules regulated by proteinuria.

BACKGROUND: Proximal tubules activated by reabsorption of protein are thought to play significant roles in the progression of kidney diseases. Thus, identification of genes related to proteinuria should provide insights into the pathological process of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. METHOD: Gene expression profiles were constructed by means of direct sequencing procedures to identify genes induced in the mouse kidney proximal tubules (PT) exposed to proteinuria. RESULTS: By comparing the gene expression of control PT to that of disease model PT, the abundantly expressed genes in control PT were down-regulated presumably because of potentially toxic effects of proteinuria. From the more than 1000 up-regulated genes, an immunity related gene, thymic shared antigen-1 (TSA-1), and a novel gene, GS188, were selected for further characterization. The increased expression of TSA-1, a member of the Ly-6 family, and of GS188 in response to proteinuria was confirmed by Northern analysis, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and laser microdissection along with real-time PCR analysis. Full length cloning of GS188 identified it as a family member of LR8 that was reported to express predominantly in fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: The gene expression profiles showed that the expression patterns in PT were changed dramatically by proteinuria. The profiles include novel genes that should be further characterized to aid the understanding of the pathophysiology of progressive kidney diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Essential role of MD-2 in B-cell responses to lipopolysaccharide and Toll-like receptor 4 distribution.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mediates lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling in a variety of cell types. MD-2 is associated with the extracellular domain of TLR4 and augments TLR4-dependent LPS responses in vitro. Moreover, mice lacking MD-2 (MD-2(-/-)) do not respond to LPS, survive endotoxin shock, and are susceptible to Salmonella typhimurium infection. Here, we further show that B cells lacking MD-2 do not up-regulate CD23 in response to LPS. TLR4 predominantly resides in the Golgi apparatus without MD-2. MD-2 is essential for LPS responses in vivo.

Animals↗