Biomedical subjects

Stanley G Nathenson

Publications and source records attributed to Stanley G Nathenson.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Structural basis of inducible costimulator ligand costimulatory function: determination of the cell surface oligomeric state and functional mapping of the receptor binding site of the protein.

Inducible costimulator (ICOS) ligand (ICOSL), a B7-related transmembrane glycoprotein with extracellular IgV and IgC domains, binds to ICOS on activated T cells and delivers a positive costimulatory signal for optimal T cell function. Toward determining the structural features of ICOSL crucial for its costimulatory function, the present study shows that ICOSL displays a marked oligomerization potential, resembling more like B7-1 than B7-2. Use of ICOSL constructs lacking either the IgC or IgV domain demonstrates that receptor binding is mediated solely by the IgV domain but requires the IgC domain for maintaining the structural integrity of the protein. To map further the receptor recognition surface on ICOSL, a homology-based protein structure model of the ICOS:ICOSL complex was constructed. Based on predictions from the model, a series of mutations were generated targeting the potential receptor binding surface on ICOSL, and the mutants were tested for their biological function in terms of ICOS binding and T cell costimulation ability. The results provide experimental validation of the model and show that the receptor binding site on ICOSL is constituted chiefly by aromatic/hydrophobic residues. Critical ICOSL residues essential for ICOS binding map to the GFCC'C'' beta-sheet face of the IgV domain and approximately overlap with the B7-1/B7-2 motif(s) that recognize CD28/CTLA-4. Altogether, similar structural features of ICOSL and B7 isoforms suggest a close evolutionary relationship between these costimulatory ligands, yet differences at the same time explain their unique specificity for the cognate binding partners, ICOS and CD28/CTLA-4, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

NTB-A receptor crystal structure: insights into homophilic interactions in the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule receptor family.

The signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) family includes homophilic and heterophilic receptors that regulate both innate and adaptive immunity. The ectodomains of most SLAM family members are composed of an N-terminal IgV domain and a C-terminal IgC2 domain. NK-T-B-antigen (NTB-A) is a homophilic receptor that stimulates cytotoxicity in natural killer (NK) cells, regulates bactericidal activities in neutrophils, and potentiates T helper 2 (Th2) responses. The 3.0 A crystal structure of the complete NTB-A ectodomain revealed a rod-like monomer that self-associates to form a highly kinked dimer spanning an end-to-end distance of approximately 100 A. The NTB-A homophilic and CD2-CD58 heterophilic dimers show overall structural similarities but differ in detailed organization and physicochemical properties of their respective interfaces. The NTB-A structure suggests a mechanism responsible for binding specificity within the SLAM family and imposes physical constraints relevant to the colocalization of SLAM-family proteins with other signaling molecules in the immunological synapse.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

B7-1 and B7-2: similar costimulatory ligands with different biochemical, oligomeric and signaling properties.

B7-1 and B7-2 are homologous costimulatory ligands expressed on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APCs). Binding of these molecules to the T cell costimulatory receptors, CD28 and CTLA-4, is essential for the activation and regulation of T cell immunity. Despite strong structural similarities, B7-1 and B7-2 exhibit different biochemical features, and their binding to the costimulatory receptors results in distinct T cell functional outcomes. Using photobleaching based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), our previous studies have demonstrated that B7-1 and B7-2 have different cell surface oligomeric states. While B7-1 is present as a dimer, B7-2 exists as a monomer on the cell surface suggesting that the unique cell surface oligomeric states of the costimulatory ligands may play a key role in the regulation of T cell responses. Moreover, signaling via B7-1 and B7-2 in dendritic cells has been reported to be dependent on their simultaneous expression, raising the possibility that their direct interaction or their involvement in synergistic signaling pathways may play a role in the function of antigen presenting cells. We discuss physiological relevance of distinct oligomeric states of B7-1 and B7-2 and address whether these molecules can associate with one another on the cell surface to form hetero-oligomers. Our findings suggest that B7-1 and B7-2 do not form hetero-oligomers, underscoring the biological relevance of dimeric and monomeric state of B7-1 and B7-2, respectively.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Structural analysis of H2-Db class I molecules containing two different allelic forms of the type 1 diabetes susceptibility factor beta-2 microglobulin: implications for the mechanism underlying variations in antigen presentation.

Beta-2 microglobulin (beta2m) is a member of the immunoglobulin-like domain superfamily that is an essential structural subunit of the MHC class I (MHC-I) molecule. beta2m was previously identified as a susceptibility factor for the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in NOD mice, whereby transgenic expression of the beta2ma variant, but not the beta2mb variant, restored diabetes susceptibility to normally resistant NOD.beta2mnull mice. Here we report the crystal structures and thermodynamic stabilities of the NOD MHC-I molecule H2-Db containing these two variants. Our results reveal subtle differences in the structures of the beta2m variants, namely in minor loop shifts and in variations in the hydrogen bonding networks at the interfaces between the components of the ternary complex. We also demonstrate that the thermodynamic stabilities of the beta2m variants in isolation differ. However, the conformation of the peptide in the MHC cleft is unchanged in beta2m allelic Db complexes, as are the TCR recognition surfaces. Thus, despite modest structural differences between allelic complexes, the evidence indicates that Db peptide presentation of the representative peptide is unchanged in the context of either beta2m allelic variant. These data suggest that other mechanisms, such as differential association of MHC-I in multiprotein complexes, are likely responsible for the effect of beta2m on T1D development.

Alleles↗

PubMed2005

Different cell surface oligomeric states of B7-1 and B7-2: implications for signaling.

The costimulatory ligands B7-1 and B7-2 are expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells and interact with the costimulatory receptors CD28 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expressed on T cells. Although B7-1 and B7-2 are homologous ligands having common receptors, they exhibit distinct biochemical features and roles in immune regulation. Several biochemical and structural studies have indicated differences in the oligomeric state of B7-1 and B7-2. However, the organization of B7 ligands on the cell surface has not been examined. By using photobleaching-based FRET (pbFRET), we demonstrate that B7-1 and B7-2 adopt different oligomeric states on the cell surface. Our study shows that B7-2 exists as a monomer on the cell surface whereas B7-1 exists predominantly as dimers on the cell surface. A series of mutations in B7-1 result in the expression of a predominantly monomeric species on the cell surface and validate the dimer interface proposed by prior crystallographic analysis. The difference in the oligomeric states of B7-1 and B7-2 provides insight into the geometric organization of the costimulatory receptor-ligand complexes in the immunological synapse and suggests constraints on signal transduction mechanisms involved in T cell activation.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

T cell receptor binding kinetics required for T cell activation depend on the density of cognate ligand on the antigen-presenting cell.

CD8(+) T cells recognize peptides of eight to nine amino acid residues long in the context of MHC class I molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This recognition event is highly sensitive, as evidenced by the fact that T cells can be activated by cognate peptide/MHC complex (pMHC) at extremely low densities (1-50 molecules). High sensitivity is particularly valuable for detection of antigens at low density, such as those derived from tumor cells and intracellular pathogens, which can down-modulate cognate pMHCs from the surface of APCs to evade recognition by the adaptive immune system. T cell activation is only triggered in response to interactions between the T cell receptor (TCR) and the pMHC ligand that reach a specific half-life threshold. However, interactions with excessively long half-lives result in impaired T cell activation. Thus, efficient T cell activation by pMHC on the surface of APCs requires an optimal dwell time of TCR-pMHC interaction. Here, we show that, although this is a requirement at low cognate pMHC density on the APC surface, at high epitope density there is no impairment of T cell activation by extended TCR-pMHC dwell times. This observation was predicted by mathematical simulations for T cell activation by pMHC at different densities and supported by experiments performed on APCs selected for varied expression of cognate pMHC. According to these results, effective T cell activation depends on a complex interplay between inherent TCR-pMHC binding kinetics and the epitope density on the APC.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗

PubMed2004

Structural and functional analysis of the costimulatory receptor programmed death-1.

PD-1, a member of the CD28/CTLA-4/ICOS costimulatory receptor family, delivers negative signals that have profound effects on T and B cell immunity. The 2.0 A crystal structure of the extracellular domain of murine PD-1 reveals an Ig V-type topology with overall similarity to the CTLA-4 monomer; however, there are notable differences in regions relevant to function. Our structural and biophysical data show that PD-1 is monomeric both in solution as well as on cell surface, in contrast to CTLA-4 and other family members that are all disulfide-linked homodimers. Furthermore, our structure-based mutagenesis studies identify the ligand binding surface of PD-1, which displays significant differences compared to those present in the other members of the family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Identification of the beta cell antigen targeted by a prevalent population of pathogenic CD8+ T cells in autoimmune diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which autoreactive T cells attack and destroy the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. CD8+ T cells are essential for this beta cell destruction, yet their specific antigenic targets are largely unknown. Here, we reveal that the autoantigen targeted by a prevalent population of pathogenic CD8+ T cells in nonobese diabetic mice is islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP). Through tetramer technology, IGRP-reactive T cells are readily detected in islets and peripheral blood directly ex vivo. The human IGRP gene maps to a diabetes susceptibility locus, suggesting that IGRP also may be an antigen for pathogenic T cells in human type 1 diabetes and, thus, a new, potential target for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Crystal structure of the receptor-binding domain of human B7-2: insights into organization and signaling.

B7-1 and B7-2 are homologous costimulatory ligands expressed on the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells. Their interactions with CD28/CTLA-4 receptors expressed on T cell surfaces are crucial for the proper regulation of T cell activity. B7-1 and B7-2 display distinct roles in immune regulation, although they are usually considered to have redundant functions. Here, we report the crystal structure of the receptor-binding (Ig V-type) domain of human B7-2 at 2.7-A resolution. Structures of unliganded and liganded B7-1 and B7-2 suggest a physical-chemical basis for the observed functional similarities and differences between these two costimulatory ligands. Of particular note, whereas the majority of the residues mediating B7-1 dimerization are hydrophobic, the B7-2 dimer observed in the B7-2/CTLA-4 complex displays a very hydrophilic dimer interface. These differences provide a mechanism for preventing the formation of B7-1/B7-2 heterodimers. The divergence at the putative dimer interface is also consistent with the lower tendency of B7-2 to dimerize, as shown by the monomeric state of unliganded B7-2 both in solution and crystalline form, and may result in detailed differences in signaling mechanisms associated with B7-1 and B7-2.

Abatacept↗

PubMed2002

Activated TCRs remain marked for internalization after dissociation from pMHC.

To assess the roles of serial engagement and kinetic proofreading in T cell receptor (TCR) internalization, we have developed a mathematical model of this process. Our determination of TCR down-regulation for an array of TCR mutants, interpreted in the context of the model, has provided new information about peptide-induced TCR internalization. The amount of TCR down-regulation increases to a maximum value and then declines as a function of the half-life of the bond between the TCR and peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC). The model shows that this behavior, which reflects competition between serial engagement and kinetic proofreading, arises only if it is postulated that activated TCRs remain marked for internalization after dissociation from pMHC. The model also predicts that because of kinetic proofreading, the range of TCR-pMHC-binding half-lives required for T cell activation depends on the concentrations and localization of intracellular signaling molecules. We show here that kinetic proofreading provides an explanation for the different requirements for activation observed in naïve and memory T cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

How H13 histocompatibility peptides differing by a single methyl group and lacking conventional MHC binding anchor motifs determine self-nonself discrimination.

The mouse H13 minor histocompatibility (H) Ag, originally detected as a barrier to allograft transplants, is remarkable in that rejection is a consequence of an extremely subtle interchange, P4(Val/Ile), in a nonamer H2-D(b)-bound peptide. Moreover, H13 peptides lack the canonical P5(Asn) central anchor residue normally considered important for forming a peptide/MHC complex. To understand how these noncanonical peptide pMHC complexes form physiologically active TCR ligands, crystal structures of allelic H13 pD(b) complexes and a P5(Asn) anchored pD(b) analog were solved to high resolution. The structures show that the basis of TCRs to distinguish self from nonself H13 peptides is their ability to distinguish a single solvent-exposed methyl group. In addition, the structures demonstrate that there is no need for H13 peptides to derive any stabilization from interactions within the central C pocket to generate fully functional pMHC complexes. These results provide a structural explanation for a classical non-MHC-encoded H Ag, and they call into question the requirement for contact between anchor residues and the major MHC binding pockets in vaccine design.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2002

During the early prediabetic period in NOD mice, the pathogenic CD8(+) T-cell population comprises multiple antigenic specificities.

In the NOD mouse model of type 1 diabetes, major histocompatibilitycomplex (MHC) class I-restricted CD8(+) T cells are essential for disease development. However, the extent of diversity of their antigenic specificities during early pathogenesis remains unclear. An insulin-derived peptide was recently identified as the epitope for the NOD-derived diabetogenic T-cell clone G9C8. To explore the possibility that the early pathogenic CD8(+) T-cell population comprises additional antigenic specificities, we employed the T-cell clones AI4 and NY8.3, both of which are pathogenic and represent specificities present in early insulitic lesions. The clones responded to distinct fractions of chromatographically separated class I MHC-bound peptides purified from NOD-derived NIT-1 beta cells, and neither clone recognized the insulin-derived peptide. NIT-1 cells represent an unlimited peptide source that will allow for the future isolation and sequencing of the novel multiple epitopes targeted early in the autoimmune response by pathogenic CD8(+) T cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Expression, refolding, purification, molecular characterization, crystallization, and preliminary X-ray analysis of the receptor binding domain of human B7-2.

The cell-mediated immune response involves a series of specific molecular interactions between cell surface molecules on T cells and antigen-presenting cells. Of particular importance for the regulation of T cell activity is the interaction of the B7 isoforms, B7-1 and B7-2, with the T cell surface costimulatory receptors, CD28 and CTLA-4. The binding of CD28 by B7-1/B7-2 results in an enhancement of T cell responses initiated by the interaction between a clonotypic T cell receptor and its specific, antigenic MHC-peptide complex, whereas the subsequent engagement of CTLA-4 by B7-1/B7-2 leads to a down-regulation of the response. Here we report the expression, refolding, purification, characterization, and crystallization of the receptor-binding domain of human B7-2. The receptor-binding domain of human B7-2 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies, solubilized in 6 M guanidine-hydrochloride, and then refolded in vitro by rapid dilution into a renaturing buffer. Refolded B7-2 was subsequently purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange chromatography. Gel-filtration chromatography and native PAGE analysis showed that the receptor-binding domain of B7-2 is exclusively monomeric in solution. Purified B7-2 binds tightly to bacterially expressed monomeric and disulfide-linked homodimeric human CTLA-4 as shown by gel-filtration chromatography and native PAGE. This suggests that glycosylation is not important for the proper folding of the receptor-binding domain of B7-2 nor for its binding to CTLA-4. In addition, these results suggest that refolded B7-2 is biologically active and may be a useful therapeutic and experimental reagent for regulating T cell activity. Refolded and purified B7-2 was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapor diffusion method, allowing for the initiation of an X-ray crystallographic study.

Abatacept↗

PubMed2002

Structural mechanisms of costimulation.

Recent studies have highlighted the structural requirements for T cell costimulation and have revealed unusual modes of dimerization for the cytolytic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) costimulatory receptor and its B7 ligands. These distinctive quaternary structures potentially endow both receptor and ligand with bivalent binding properties, which suggests a number of mechanistic features relevant to signaling. These include the potential to form a highly ordered, alternating network of CTLA-4 and B7 homodimers that may represent the organization of these molecules and their associated signaling partners within the immunological synapse. Primary sequence and structural considerations suggest that some aspects of the organizational and mechanistic features associated with the CTLA-4-B7 complexes may extend to other members of the costimulatory receptor-ligand family. An examination of the signaling mechanisms within the costimulatory receptor-ligand family provides an excellent framework to consider the general principles that are relevant to cell surface receptor-mediated signaling events.

Abatacept↗