MHC class II signal transduction in human dendritic cells induced by a natural ligand, the LAG-3 protein (CD223)

Blood. 2003 Sep 15;102(6):2130-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2003-01-0273. Epub 2003 May 29.

Abstract

On encountering a danger signal, dendritic cells (DCs) undergo a complex maturation process and become specialized in antigen presentation. We previously reported that engagement of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules located on immature DCs in membrane rafts by lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3; CD223) leads to DC maturation. In contrast, exposure of DCs to class II-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) did not lead to maturation. Here, we have investigated the signal transduction pathways involved in the LAG-3-induced maturation of human monocyte-derived DCs. We first show that areas of raft aggregation (both cholesterol rich and CDw78 microdomains) could be visualized using a soluble LAG-3 protein and confocal microscopy. Engagement of class II molecules by both its natural ligand LAG-3 and class II mAb induces rapid protein phosphorylation of phospholipase Cgamma2 (PLCgamma2) and p72syk as well as activation of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/Akt, p42/44 extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Studies using inhibitors demonstrate that these 3 pathways are all important in inducing the maturation process of LAG-3-stimulated DCs. When class II molecules were ligated with LAG-3 versus specific antibody, differences in the phosphorylation pattern of c-Akt were observed. Thus, MHC class II signaling in DCs involves several pathways that have to be finely regulated to lead to cell activation and maturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antigens, CD*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / enzymology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / immunology
  • Enzyme Activation / immunology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Precursors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Enzyme Precursors / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology
  • Syk Kinase
  • Type C Phospholipases / metabolism
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Enzyme Precursors
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Stilbenes
  • Tyrosine
  • 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • SYK protein, human
  • Syk Kinase
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Type C Phospholipases
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein
  • Lag3 protein, human
  • soluble LAG-3 protein, human