Regulation of T cell activation and tolerance by phospholipase C gamma-1-dependent integrin avidity modulation

Ag receptor engagement without costimulation induces a tolerant state in CD4(+) T cells termed anergy. Anergic CD4(+) T cells are primarily characterized by the inability to produce IL-2, but the biochemical basis for this functional defect is not completely understood. We demonstrate that primary CD4(+) T cells anergized by costimulatory blockade exhibit impaired TCR-coupled phospholipase C (PLC)gamma-1 activation. This defect is associated with the marked reduction of multiple downstream signaling events required for IL-2 transcription, including mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+) and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. We also found that primary anergic CD4(+) T cells fail entirely to modulate their integrin binding avidity in response to TCR stimulation. Integrin avidity modulation is required for full T cell activation and effector function, and as we show in this study, is completely dependent upon PLCgamma-1 activity. Finally, analogs that mimic the actions of diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate, the immediate products of PLCgamma-1 activity, restored integrin avidity modulation and IL-2 production by anergic T cells. Thus, deficient coupling of PLCgamma-1 to the TCR appears to be a central biochemical defect that could potentially account for the failure of multiple functional responses in primary anergic CD4(+) T cells.