Transgelin-2 in B-Cells Controls T-Cell Activation by Stabilizing T Cell - B Cell Conjugates

PLoS One. 2016 May 27;11(5):e0156429. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156429. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The immunological synapse (IS), a dynamic and organized junction between T-cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs), is critical for initiating adaptive immunity. The actin cytoskeleton plays a major role in T-cell reorganization during IS formation, and we previously reported that transgelin-2, an actin-binding protein expressed in T-cells, stabilizes cortical F-actin, promoting T-cell activation in response to antigen stimulation. Transgelin-2 is also highly expressed in B-cells, although no specific function has been reported. In this study, we found that deficiency in transgelin-2 (TAGLN2-/-) in B-cells had little effect on B-cell development and activation, as measured by the expression of CD69, MHC class II molecules, and CD80/86. Nevertheless, in B-cells, transgelin-2 accumulated in the IS during the interaction with T-cells. These results led us to hypothesize that transgelin-2 may also be involved in IS stability in B-cells, thereby influencing T-cell function. Notably, we found that transgelin-2 deficiency in B-cells reduced T-cell activation, as determined by the release of IL-2 and interferon-γ and the expression of CD69. Furthermore, the reduced T-cell activation was correlated with reduced B-cell-T-cell conjugate formation. Collectively, these results suggest that actin stability in B-cells during IS formation is critical for the initiation of adaptive T-cell immunity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Humans
  • Immunological Synapses / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins / deficiency
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle Proteins / deficiency
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Tagln2 protein, mouse

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the Basic Science Program (2015R1A2A1A15052658) and the Creative Research Initiative Program (2015R1A3A2066253) through the National Research Foundation (NRF) grants funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (MSIP) given to CDJ; the Basic Science Program (2013R1A6A3A04064259) through the NRF grants funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Korea, given to HRK; and a grant from the Silver Health Bio Research Center of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, given to ZYP. Image acquisition was performed using the imaging facility of the Bio Imaging Research Center at GIST. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.