Small, mobile FcepsilonRI receptor aggregates are signaling competent

Immunity. 2009 Sep 18;31(3):469-79. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2009.06.026. Epub 2009 Sep 10.

Abstract

Crosslinking of IgE-bound FcepsilonRI triggers mast cell degranulation. Previous fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and phosphorescent anisotropy studies suggested that FcepsilonRI must immobilize to signal. Here, single quantum dot (QD) tracking and hyperspectral microscopy methods were used for defining the relationship between receptor mobility and signaling. QD-IgE-FcepsilonRI aggregates of at least three receptors remained highly mobile over extended times at low concentrations of antigen that induced Syk kinase activation and near-maximal secretion. Multivalent antigen, presented as DNP-QD, also remained mobile at low doses that supported secretion. FcepsilonRI immobilization was marked at intermediate and high antigen concentrations, correlating with increases in cluster size and rates of receptor internalization. The kinase inhibitor PP2 blocked secretion without affecting immobilization or internalization. We propose that immobility is a feature of highly crosslinked immunoreceptor aggregates and a trigger for receptor internalization, but is not required for tyrosine kinase activation leading to secretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Protein Subunits / immunology
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Quantum Dots
  • Rats
  • Receptors, IgE / immunology*
  • Receptors, IgE / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Syk Kinase

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • Receptors, IgE
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Syk Kinase
  • Syk protein, rat