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Expression of functional trk tyrosine kinase receptors after T cell activation
P B Ehrhard1, P Erb, U Graumann
1Department of Physiology, University of Basel, Vesalianum, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Increasing evidence indicates that nerve growth factor (NGF), in addition to its neurotrophic actions, exerts specific effects on cells of the immune system. This report show that the CD4-positive T cell line 9/6 expresses trk protooncogene, the signal transducing receptor unit for NGF, after TCR-mediated activation by Ag and APC. This receptor is of functional importance because interaction of NGF with Ag-stimulated 9/6 T cells induced the transcriptional activation of the c-fos gene, a hallmark of the biochemical response to NGF. Our findings that neither mitogen nor Ag stimulation induced the expression of the low affinity NGF receptor in 9/6 T cells indicate that trk alone is sufficient to mediate biologic activity of NGF in T lymphocytes.
Insights
Nerve growth factor (NGF) interacts with T cells, activating the trk receptor and the c-fos gene. This demonstrates NGF
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known for neurotrophic roles.
- Emerging evidence suggests NGF influences immune cell function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and function of NGF receptors on T cells.
- To determine if NGF signaling impacts T cell activation pathways.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a CD4-positive T cell line (9/6).
- Analyzed receptor expression via TCR-mediated activation.
- Assessed gene transcriptional activation (c-fos) following NGF interaction.
Main Results:
- The 9/6 T cell line expresses the trk protooncogene (NGF receptor) upon activation.
- NGF interaction with activated T cells induced c-fos gene transcription.
- Low-affinity NGF receptor was not expressed, indicating trk's primary role.
Conclusions:
- The trk receptor is functionally expressed on activated T cells.
- NGF binding to trk on T cells triggers downstream signaling, evidenced by c-fos induction.
- trk receptor alone mediates NGF's biological activity in T lymphocytes.