Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 binding to SHP2 interacting transmembrane adapter protein by phosphorylation in T-cell

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate potential cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) binding partners and assess whether potential binding partners affect the full function of CTLA-4. Methods: The down-regulation effects of CTLA-4 and SIT were assessed by culturing CD3 stimulated T-cells. CTLA-4 and SIT proteins were measured by immunoblot analysis and production of interlukin-2 transcription activity evaluated by luciferase assay. Results: CTLA-4 inhibited the interlukin-2 production capacity of CD3-stimulated T cells. CTLA-4 interaction with SHP2 interacting transmembrane adapter protein (SIT) in the down-regulation of the transcription of Interulin-2 required CTLA-4 binding to SIT tyrosine motifs. The SIT tyrosine mutants were significantly lower (25 – 75 %) after phosphorylation compared with WT-SIT (transfected cells, p < 0.05) and untreated control. The remaining 90 % phosphorylation in the F188ANS mutant can be explained by phosphorylation of other tyrosines in the sequence of SIT (p < 0.05). For interukin-2 transcription, F188ANS single mutant and double F148SEV mutant, increased NF-AT activity by 35 % compared with the wild type (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings imply that SIT transmembrane adaptor (SIT) protein, binds to CTLA-4 and thus potentiates the inhibitory role of this co-receptor. This phenomenon may lead to the development of new treatment strategies for autoimmune diseases and graft rejection.