Publication: The lymphoid lineage-specific actin-uncapping protein Rltpr is essential for costimulation via CD28 and the development of regulatory T cells.

Published in: Nat Immunol 2013 Aug; 14(8): 858-66

Authors: Liang Y, Cucchetti M, Roncagalli R, Yokosuka T, Malzac A, Bertosio E, Imbert J, Nijman IJ, Suchanek M, Saito T, Wülfing C, Malissen B, Malissen M

Summary

Although T cell activation can result from signaling via T cell antigen receptor (TCR) alone, physiological T cell responses require costimulation via the coreceptor CD28. Through the use of an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-mutagenesis screen, we identified a mutation in Rltpr. We found that Rltpr was a lymphoid cell-specific, actin-uncapping protein essential for costimulation via CD28 and the development of regulatory T cells. Engagement of TCR-CD28 at the immunological synapse resulted in the colocalization of CD28 with both wild-type and mutant Rltpr proteins. However, the connection between CD28 and protein kinase C-θ and Carma1, two key effectors of CD28 costimulation, was abrogated in T cells expressing mutant Rltpr, and CD28 costimulation did not occur in those cells. Our findings provide a more complete model of CD28 costimulation in which Rltpr has a key role.

Link to Pubmed [PMID] – 23793062

Link to DOI – 10.1038/ni.2634