T-cell receptor-mediated signal transduction in transformed human T-cells

Recently it has been shown that purified complexes of major histocompatibility (MHC) class II and antigenic peptide can recognize T-cell receptors (TCRs) on virally transformed CD4+ T-cells in vitro. It is not clearly understood whether peptide bound to purified MHC II molecules (MHC-P), or to MHC II molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APC-peptide), initiate similar or different signals in transformed human T-cells. To address this question, the expression of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), their phosphorylation, and the effect of various kinase inhibitors were investigated using transformed T- and B-cells. HLA-DR2- and MBP(84-102)-restricted cloned T-cells (SS8T) immortalized with herpes saimiri virus (HSV) and DR2-expressing lymphoblastoid B cells transformed with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were utilized in this study. The expression and phosphorylation of three major PTKs (1ck-56, fyn-59, zap-70) involved in signaling through the TCR were analyzed by enhanced chemiluminescence blots. T-cells exposed to soluble MHC-P complex did not show altered expression of 1ck-56 protein. In contrast, a decrease in 1ck expression was observed in SS8T cells when TCRs were engaged with APC-peptide. Upon interaction with the TCR, both MHC-P complex and APC-peptide showed increased fyn-59 protein expression and phosphorylation. In our experiments using immortalized T- and B-cells, the expression of zap-70 protein remained unchanged. When T-cells were exposed to herbimycin and H-7, inhibitors of PTKs and protein kinase C (PKC) pathways, respectively, a dose-dependent decrease in gamma-IFN levels was observed with both systems. However, in the presence of genestein, another PTK inhibitor, such decrease in gamma-IFN was observed only in the case in which T-cells were exposed to MHC-P complexes. These results together suggest that the occupancy of TCRs in transformed T-cells by soluble MHC-P complex and APC-peptide differs with respect to the 1ck expression, although both can induce signals that lead to increased fyn activity and its phosphorylation. In addition, genestein showed differential inhibitory effect on gamma-IFN production by T-cells exposed to APC-peptide and MHC-P complexes, suggesting that the TCR occupancy by MHC-P complex and APC-peptide have subtle differences in PTK pathways.