CD28 provides a costimulatory signal that results in optimal activation of T cells. The signal transduction pathways necessary for CD28-mediated costimulation are presently unknown. Engagement of CD28 leads to its tyrosine phosphorylation and subsequent binding to Src homology 2 (SH2)-containing proteins including the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K); however, the contribution of PI3K to CD28-dependent costimulation remains controversial. Here we show that CD28 is capable of binding the Src homology 3 (SH3) domains of several proteins, including Grb2. The interaction between Grb2 and CD28 is mediated by the binding of Grb2-SH3 domains to the C-terminal diproline motif present in the cytoplasmic domain of CD28. While the affinity of the C-terminal SH3 domain of Grb2 for CD28 is greater than that of the N-terminal SH3 domain, optimal binding requires both SH3 domains. Ligation of CD28, but not tyrosine-phosphorylation, is required for the SH3-mediated binding of Grb2 to CD28. We propose a model whereby the association of Grb2 with CD28 occurs via an inducible SH3-mediated interaction and leads to the recruitment of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins such as p52 shc bound to the SH2 domain of Grb2. The inducible interaction of Grb2 to the C-terminal region of CD28 may form the basis for PI3K-independent signaling through CD28.
Engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR)1 by the major histocompatibility complex-peptide complex in the absence of costimulatory molecules is insufficient to induce production of cytokines and can render the T cells unresponsive to further antigenic challenge (1). CD28 is preeminent among a group of receptors, including 4 -1BB and CD43, that can provide costimulatory signals to T cells (2-4). CD28 is a type 1 transmembrane protein of the Ig superfamily, which is expressed on the cell surface as a glycosylated homodimer (5). CD28 costimulation of TCR-dependent responses increases IL-2 production (6, 7), prevents the induction of anergy (8), and renders T cells resistant to apoptotic cell death (9 -11). These effects are mediated by increased transcription of cytokine genes through the activation of a composite NF-B and AP-1 transcriptional element (12, 13), the stabilization of cytokine mRNAs (14), and the expression of the survival protein, Bclx L (9). TCR-mediated T cell activation is sensitive to the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin, while those pathways activated by CD28 are not, suggesting that costimulatory pathways are distinct from those activated by the TCR (7). Early biochemical events induced through CD28 include tyrosine phosphorylation (15, 16) and activation of PI3K (17-19) and acidic sphingomyelinase (20). The identity of the signal transduction pathways that are required for CD28-mediated costimulation are presently unknown.The cytoplasmic domain of CD28 contains no recognized intrinsic enzymatic activity; however, CD28 has been reported to associate with signaling proteins following ligation. Phosphorylation of CD28 on tyrosine 173 within the motif YMNM pres...