Cutting Edge: Transmembrane Phosphoprotein Csk-Binding Protein/Phosphoprotein Associated With Glycosphingolipid-Enriched Microdomains as a Negative Feedback Regulator of Mast Cell Signaling Through the FcεRI

Abstract

Tyrosine phosphorylation in the cytoplasmic domains of FcεRI by the Src family kinase Lyn initiates a signaling cascade leading to mast cell activation. In this study, we show that a recently identified transmembrane protein, Csk-binding protein (Cbp), also known as phospoprotein associated with glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains (PAG), negatively regulates FcεRI signaling. In rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells, the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbp/PAG and its association with Csk, a negative regulator for Lyn, significantly elevate immediately after aggregation of FcεRI. An overexpression of Cbp/PAG in RBL-2H3 cells inhibits FcεRI-mediated cell activation. This is accompanied with decreased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of FcεRI, association of FcεRI with Lyn, and FcεRI-associated tyrosine kinase activity. These findings combined with the fact that Cbp/PAG, Lyn, and aggregated FcεRI are localized to lipid rafts, suggest that upon FcεRI aggregation Cbp/PAG down-regulates the receptor-associated Lyn activity through relocating Csk to rafts, thereby efficiently mediating feedback inhibition of FcεRI signaling.