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Sci. Signal., 23 June 2009
Vol. 2, Issue 76, p. ra30
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2000046]

RESEARCH ARTICLES

Editor's Summary

Degrading the Gatekeeper
Full activation of T cells in vivo requires the simultaneous delivery of two independent signals: stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) by antigenic peptide presented by the major histocompatibility complex and stimulation of CD28 co-receptors. Stimulation of the TCR in the absence of a costimulatory signal results in a state of nonresponsiveness known as anergy, which is an important means of inhibiting the responses of self-reactive T cells that would otherwise trigger autoimmunity. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b acts as a gatekeeper that prevents full activation of T cells by targeting proteins involved in TCR signaling for degradation (see the Perspective by Schmitz). Loss of cblb results in exacerbated autoimmune responses and enables activation of T cells through the TCR in the absence of costimulation of CD28. Cbl-b is itself targeted for ubiquitination and degradation in response to costimulation of CD28, but the mechanism involved is unclear. Gruber et al. found that protein kinase C-{theta} (PKC-{theta}), which is required for normal T cell immune responses, bound to Cbl-b on costimulation of CD28 and that PKC-{theta}–mediated phosphorylation of Cbl-b led to its ubiquitination and degradation. Experiments in which autoimmune disease was induced in mice singly or doubly deficient in cblb and PKC{theta} showed the antagonistic functions of Cbl-b and PKC-{theta} in regulating activation of T cells. Together, these data suggest that PKC-{theta} is critical for triggering the degradation of Cbl-b that is necessary to enable a full immune response in T cells.

Citation: T. Gruber, N. Hermann-Kleiter, R. Hinterleitner, F. Fresser, R. Schneider, G. Gastl, J. M. Penninger, G. Baier, PKC-{theta} Modulates the Strength of T Cell Responses by Targeting Cbl-b for Ubiquitination and Degradation. Sci. Signal. 2, ra30 (2009).

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