Regulatory T cells (Treg cells), which maintain immune homeostasis and self-tolerance, form an immunological synapse (IS) with antigen-presenting cells (APCs). However, signaling events at the Treg IS remain unknown. Here we show that protein kinase C-η (PKC-η) associated with CTLA-4 and was recruited to the Treg IS. PKC-η-deficient Treg cells displayed defective suppressive activity, including suppression of tumor immunity but not autoimmune colitis. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed an association between CTLA-4-PKC-η and the GIT-PIX-PAK complex, an IS-localized focal adhesion complex. Defective activation of this complex in PKC-η-deficient Treg cells was associated with reduced CD86 depletion from APCs by Treg cells. These results reveal a novel CTLA-4-PKC-η signaling axis required for contact-dependent suppression, implicating this pathway as a potential cancer immunotherapy target.

SWAP-70-like adapter of T cells (SLAT) is a novel guanine nucleotide exchange factor for RhoGTPases that is upregulated in Th2 cells, but whose physiological function is unclear. We show that SLAT -/-mice displayed a developmental defect at one of the earliest stages of thymocyte differentiation, the double-negative 1 (DN1) stage, leading to decreased peripheral T cell numbers. SLAT -/-peripheral CD4 + T cells demonstrated impaired TCR/CD28-induced proliferation and IL-2 production, which was rescued by the addition of exogenous IL-2. Importantly, SLAT -/-mice were grossly impaired in their ability to mount not only Th2, but also Th1-mediated lung inflammatory responses, as evidenced by reduced airway neutrophilia and eosinophilia, respectively. Levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokine in the lungs were also markedly reduced, paralleling the reduction in pulmonary inflammation. This defect in mounting Th1/Th2 responses, which was also evident in vitro, was traced to a severe reduction in Ca 2+ mobilization from ER stores, which consequently led to defective TCR/CD28-induced translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1/2 (NFATc1/2). Thus, SLAT is required for thymic DN1 cell expansion, T cell activation, and Th1 and Th2 inflammatory responses.

SUMMARY SWAP-70-like adaptor of T cells (SLAT) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho GTPases that regulates the development of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cell inflammatory responses by controlling the Ca2+-NFAT signaling pathway. However, the mechanism used by SLAT to regulate these events is unknown. Here, we report that the T cell receptor (TCR)-induced translocation of SLAT to the immunological synapse required Lck-mediated phosphorylation of two tyrosine residues located in an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-like sequence but was independent of the SLAT PH domain. This subcellular relocalization was coupled to, and necessary for, activation of the NFAT pathway. Furthermore, membrane targeting of the SLAT Dbl-homology (catalytic) domain was sufficient to trigger TCR-mediated NFAT activation and Th1 and Th2 differentiation in a Cdc42-dependent manner. Therefore, tyrosine-phosphorylation-mediated relocalization of SLAT to the site of antigen recognition is required for SLAT to exert its pivotal role in NFAT-dependent CD4+ T cell differentiation.

recruitment to lipid rafts but abrogated PKC-α translocation and actin rearrangement. PKC-α was detected in lipid microdomains and enrichment of activated PKC-α in lipid rafts was induced by I-A k signaling. Ordering of the molecular events following engagement of the MHC class II molecules revealed that I-A k recruitment to lipid rafts precedes signaling. This is consistent with the absence of a requirement for the intracytoplasmic tails for localization to lipid rafts. These data reveal that lipid-rich microdomains play a key role in MHC class II-mediated signaling in a solid tumor.