The ligands of translocator protein inhibit human Th1 responses and the rejection of murine skin allografts
CLINICAL SCIENCE
Authors: Zhang, Yannan; Yu, Sifei; Li, Xiaomin; Yang, Binyan; Wu, Changyou
Abstract
The translocator protein (TSPO) ligands affected inflammatory and immune responses. However, the exact effects of TSPO ligands on Th1 responses in vitro and in vivo are still unclear. In the present study, we found that TSPO ligands, FGIN1-27 and Ro5-4864, suppressed the cytokine production in a dose-dependent manner by purified human CD4(+) T-cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after stimulation. TSPO ligands inhibited the production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) by memory CD4+ T-cells and the differentiation of naive CD4+ T-cells into Th1 cells via suppressing the activity of the corresponding transcription factors as indicated by reduced expression of T-bet and down-regulation of STAT1, STAT4 and STAT5 phosphorylation. TSPO ligands suppressed cell proliferation and activation of CD4+ T-cells by the inhibition of TCR signal transduction including membrane proteins: Zap, Lck, Src; cytoplasm proteins: Plc gamma 1, Slp-76, ERK, JNK and the nucleoproteins: c-Jun and c-Fos. In addition, FGIN1-27 inhibited mixed lymphocyte reactions by human or murine cells. After the transplantation of allogeneic murine skin, injection of FGIN1-27 into mice prevented graft rejection by inhibition of cell infiltration and IFN-gamma production. Taken together, our data suggest that TSPO ligands inhibit Th1 cell responses and might be novel therapeutic medicine for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and prevention of transplant rejection.
Low level of Lck kinase in Th2 cells limits expression of CD4 co-receptor and S73 phosphorylation of transcription factor c-Jun
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Authors: Shebzukhov, Yury V.; Stanislawiak, Silke; Bezhaeva, Taisiya R.; Nedospasov, Sergei A.; Kuprash, Dmitry V.
Abstract
The Src-family tyrosine kinase Lck is an enzyme associated with the CD4 and CD8 co-receptors and promoting signaling through the T cell receptor (TCR) complex. The levels of Lck expression and activity change during the development and differentiation of T cells. Here we show that Lck expression is higher in Th1 cells as compared to Th2 cells. Ectopic overexpression of Lck in Th2 cells results in increased expression of CD4 co-receptor and enhanced S73 phosphorylation of transcription factor c-Jun. Our findings indicate that TCR-mediated signaling in Th2 cells may be directly attenuated by Lck protein expression level.