Signal transduction through the CD4 receptor involves the activation of the internal membrane tyrosine-protein kinase p56lck

The CD4 T-cell surface antigen is an integral membrane glycoprotein of relative molecular mass 55,000 which binds class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules expressed on antigen presenting cells (APCs). It is thought to stabilize physical interactions between T cells and APCs (for a review, see ref. 1). Evidence is accumulating that suggests that CD4 can transduce an independent signal during T-cell activation. It has recently been shown that CD4 expressed on human and murine T cells is physically associated with the Src-related tyrosine protein kinase p56lck (refs 7, 8). These results indicate that CD4 can function as a signal transducer and suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation events may be important in CD4-mediated signalling. Here, we present evidence that cross-linking of the CD4 receptor induces a rapid increase in the tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity of p56lck and is associated with the rapid phosphorylation of one of the subunits (zeta) of the T-cell receptor complex on tyrosine residues. These data provide direct evidence for a specific CD4 signal transduction pathway that is mediated through p56lck and suggest that some of the tyrosine phosphorylation events detected during antigen-mediated T-cell activation may result from signalling through this surface molecule.     

Enhancement of T-cell responsiveness by the lymphocyte-specific tyrosine protein kinase p56lck.

Lymphocyte-specific tyrosine protein kinase p56lck is physically associated with CD4 and CD8 T-cell surface molecules, suggesting that it may transduce CD4/CD8-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation signals during antigen stimulation. Indeed, antibody-mediated aggregation of CD4 (to mimic interaction with its ligand, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules), rapidly elevates the kinase activity of p56lck and is associated with marked changes in tyrosine protein phosphorylation. Genetic analyses suggest that the interaction of CD4/CD8 with p56lck results in a positive signal during antigen-induced T-cell activation. To evaluate directly the role of p56lck in T-cell activation, we introduced a constitutively activated form of Lck protein (tyrosine 505 to phenylalanine 505 mutant); in a CD4-negative, MHC-class II restricted mouse T-cell hybridoma. We report here that, as for transfection of CD4, expression of the Lck mutant enhanced T-lymphocyte responsiveness. This finding provides direct evidence that p56lck can positively regulate T-cell functions and that it mediates at least some of the effects of CD4 and CD8 on T-cell activation.     

Association of tyrosine kinase p56lck with CD4 inhibits the induction of growth through the alpha beta T-cell receptor.

The membrane glycoprotein CD4 enhances antigen-mediated activation of T cells restricted by class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This positive function has been attributed to the protein tyrosine kinase p56lck (ref. 4), which is noncovalently associated with the cytoplasmic portion of CD4, and is activated on CD4 aggregation. Antigen presentation by MHC class II molecules coaggregates CD4 and the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR alpha beta-CD3). Thus, the mutual specificity of CD4 and TCR alpha beta for the MHC-antigen complex results in the juxtaposition of p56lck and TCR alpha beta-CD3. In contrast, anti-CD4 antibodies can abrogate antigen-induced, as well as anti-TCR-induced T-cell activation, indicating that CD4 might also transduce negative signals. The molecular basis for this opposing function remains unclear. Here we show that the CD4-p56lck complex prohibits the induction of activation signals through the TCR-CD3 complex when not specifically included in the signalling process. This negative effect does not require anti-CD4 treatment, indicating that the induction of distinct negative signals is probably not involved. Rather, the results demonstrate that the CD4-p56lck complex provides prerequisite signals for antigen-receptor-induced T-cell growth and thus characterize a molecular mechanism for functional constraints imposed on T-cell activation by the MHC.     

Profound block in thymocyte development in mice lacking p56lck.

The protein Lck (p56lck) has a relative molecular mass of 56,000 and belongs to the Src family of tyrosine kinases. It is expressed exclusively in lymphoid cells, predominantly in thymocytes and peripheral T cells. Lck associates specifically with the cytoplasmic domains of both CD4 and CD8 T-cell surface glycoproteins and interacts with the beta-chain of the interleukin-2 receptor, which implicates Lck activity in signal transduction during thymocyte ontogeny and activation of mature T cells. Here we generate an lck null mutation by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells to evaluate the role of p56lck in T-cell development and activation. Lck-deficient mice show a pronounced thymic atrophy, with a dramatic reduction in the double-positive (CD4+CD8+) thymocyte population. Mature, single-positive thymocytes are not detectable in these mice and there are only very few peripheral T cells. These results illustrate the crucial role of this T-cell-specific tyrosine kinase in the thymocyte development.     

Identification of human CD4 residues affecting class II MHC versus HIV-1 gp120 binding

Interactions of CD4 with the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are crucial during thymic ontogeny and subsequently for helper and cytotoxic functions of CD4+CD8- T lymphocytes. CD4 is the receptor for the T-lymphotropic human immunodeficiency virus and binds its envelope glycoprotein, gp120. The residues involved in gp120 binding have been localized to a region within the immunoglobulin-like domain I of CD4, which corresponds to CDR2 of an immunoglobulin variable region, but the CD4 residues important in MHC class II interaction have not been characterized. Here, using a cell-binding assay dependent specifically on the CD4-MHC class II association, we analyse the effects of mutations in CD4 on class II versus gp120 binding. Mutations in CDR2 that destroy gp120 binding affect CD4-MHC class II binding similarly. In addition, binding of soluble gp120 to CD4-transfected cells abrogates their ability to interact with class II-bearing B lymphocytes. In contrast, other mutations within domains I or II that have no effect on gp120 binding eliminate or substantially decrease class II interaction. Thus, the CD4 binding site for class II MHC is more complex than the gp120 binding site, possibly reflecting a broader area of contact with the former ligand and a requirement for appropriate juxtaposition of the two N-terminal domains. The ability of gp120 to inhibit the binding of class II MHC to CD4 could be important in disrupting normal T-cell physiology, acting both to inhibit immune responses and to prevent differentiation of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes into CD4+CD8- T lymphocytes.     

Prevention of HIV-1 glycoprotein transport by soluble CD4 retained in the endoplasmic reticulum

The envelope glycoprotein (gp120/41) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) attaches the virus to the cellular CD4 receptor and mediates virus entry into the cytoplasm. In addition to being required for formation of infectious HIV, expression of gp120/41 at the plasma membrane causes the cytopathic fusion of cells carrying the CD4 antigen. The expression of gp120/41 is therefore an ideal target for therapeutic strategies designed to combat AIDS. Here we show that expression of a soluble CD4 molecule, mutated to contain a specific retention signal for the endoplasmic reticulum, blocks secretion of gp120 and surface expression of gp120/41, but does not interfere with transport of wild-type CD4. By blocking transport of the HIV glycoprotein, this retained CD4 molecule prevents the fusion of CD4 cells that is normally caused by the HIV glycoprotein. Expression of the retained CD4 molecule in human T cells might therefore be useful in the intracellular immunization procedure suggested by Baltimore.     

Intrathymic signalling in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes results in tyrosine phosphorylation of the T-cell receptor zeta chain

Thymic selection of the developing T-cell repertoire occurs in immature CD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes and is thought to be mediated by signals transduced by T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) molecules and possibly by CD4 and CD8 accessory molecules as well. It is not known, however, which signal-transduction mechanisms function in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes on engagement of TCR, CD4 or CD8 molecules. In mature T cells, CD4 and CD8 molecules are each associated with the src-like protein tyrosine kinase p56 lck and signals transduced by TCR and CD4 activate tyrosine kinases that phosphorylate TCR-zeta chains and other intracellular substrates. Consequently, we examined whether tyrosine kinases could be similarly activated in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Unexpectedly, we found that TCR-zeta chains from CD4+CD8+ thymocytes were already phosphorylated in vivo, and that dephosphorylation of this TCR subunit occurred on removal of CD4+CD8+ cells from their intrathymic environment. Rephosphorylation of TCR-zeta in cultured CD4+CD8+ thymocytes occurred rapidly in vitro, either in response to cross-linking of TCR, CD4 or CD8 by specific monoclonal antibodies, or on cell-cell contact. These observations indicate that tyrosine kinases are activated in vivo in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes undergoing thymic differentiation and selection. They also indicate that TCR, CD4 and CD8 molecules can function in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes as signalling molecules to activate tyrosine kinases and that phosphorylated TCR-zeta serves as a marker of these signalling events.     

Inability of CD8 alpha' polypeptides to associate with p56lck correlates with impaired function in vitro and lack of expression in vivo

T-cell accessory molecules, particularly CD4 and CD8, seem to be involved in the control of T-cell activation by antigen. Precisely how such molecules operate is not fully understood, but evidence to date suggests a dual role, as receptors binding ligands on stimulator cells and by direct or indirect involvement in intracellular signalling events. In mouse, truncated 'tailless' CD8 molecules occur naturally (CD8 alpha' polypeptides) and although they are expressed on the surface of thymocytes, they are not expressed on the surface of mature T cells. In this study, we show that truncated CD8 molecules are impaired in their ability to interact with the protein tyrosine kinase, p56lck, and have decreased ability to restore immune responsiveness in vitro. Our data support a dual function for CD8 molecules correlated with expression of external domains and cytoplasmic domains, respectively. Both functions appear to be critical for a competent immune system in vivo.     

A soluble form of CD4 (T4) protein inhibits AIDS virus infection

CD4 (T4) is a glycoprotein of relative molecular mass 55,000 (Mr 55K) on the surface of T lymphocytes which is thought to interact with class II MHC (major histocompatibility complex) molecules, mediating efficient association of helper T cells with antigen-bearing targets. The CD4 protein is also the receptor for HIV, a T-lymphotropic RNA virus responsible for the human acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (refs 4-7). To define the mechanisms of interaction of CD4 with the surface of antigen-presenting cells and with HIV, we have isolated the CD4 gene and expressed this gene in several different cellular environments. Here we describe an efficient expression system in which a recombinant, soluble form of CD4 (sCD4) is secreted into tissue culture supernatants. This sCD4 retains the structural and biological properties of CD4 on the cell surface, binds to the envelope glycoprotein (gp110) of HIV and inhibits the binding of virus to CD4+ lymphocytes, resulting in a striking inhibition of virus infectivity.     

Lymphocyte activation by HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein

Cell activation by phytohaemagglutinin, phorbol ester and by the supernatant of phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells induces the expression and cytopathic effects of latent human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) in vitro. The lymphocyte surface protein CD4 has been identified as a receptor for HIV-1 and binds the viral envelope glycoprotein (gp120). In the light of evidence indicating that one natural function of CD4 is as a growth factor receptor, we examined the ability of native gp120 to activate resting CD4-bearing lymphocytes. Our results indicate that gp120 has innate biological activity as a result of a specific interaction with CD4, inducing increases in intracellular levels of inositol trisphosphate and of calcium, and in interleukin-2 receptor expression and cell motility.     

HIV infection is blocked in vitro by recombinant soluble CD4

The T-cell surface glycoprotein, CD4 (T4), acts as the cellular receptor for human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), the first member of the family of viruses that cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV recognition of CD4 is probably mediated through the virus envelope glycoprotein (gp120) as shown by co-immunoprecipitation of CD4 and gp120 (ref.5) and by experiments using recombinant gp120 as a binding probe. Here we demonstrate that recombinant soluble CD4(rsT4) purified from the conditioned medium of a stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cell line is a potent inhibitor of both virus replication and virus-induced cell fusion (syncytium formation). These results suggest that rsT4 is sufficient to bind HIV, and that it represents a potential anti-viral therapy for HIV infection.     

Human immunodeficiency virus induces phosphorylation of its cell surface receptor

AIDS is an immunoregulatory disorder characterized by depletion of the CD4+, helper/inducer lymphocyte population. The causative agent of this disease is the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, which infects CD4+ cells and leads to cytopathic effects characterized by syncytia formation and cell death. Recent studies have demonstrated that binding of HIV to its cellular receptor CD4 is necessary for viral entry. We find that binding of HIV to CD4 induces rapid and sustained phosphorylation of CD4 which could involve protein kinase C. HIV-induced CD4 phosphorylation can be blocked by antibody against CD4 and monoclonal antibody against the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120, indicating that a specific interaction between CD4 and gp120 is required for phosphorylation. Electron microscopy shows that a protein kinase C inhibitor does not impair binding of HIV to CD4+ cells, but causes an apparent accumulation of virus particles at the cell surface, at the same time inhibiting viral infectivity. These results indicate a possible role for HIV-induced CD4 phosphorylation in viral entry and identify a potential target for antiviral therapy.     

Molecular architecture of native HIV-1 gp120 trimers

The envelope glycoproteins (Env) of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV, respectively) mediate virus binding to the cell surface receptor CD4 on target cells to initiate infection. Env is a heterodimer of a transmembrane glycoprotein (gp41) and a surface glycoprotein (gp120), and forms trimers on the surface of the viral membrane. Using cryo-electron tomography combined with three-dimensional image classification and averaging, we report the three-dimensional structures of trimeric Env displayed on native HIV-1 in the unliganded state, in complex with the broadly neutralizing antibody b12 and in a ternary complex with CD4 and the 17b antibody. By fitting the known crystal structures of the monomeric gp120 core in the b12- and CD4/17b-bound conformations into the density maps derived by electron tomography, we derive molecular models for the native HIV-1 gp120 trimer in unliganded and CD4-bound states. We demonstrate that CD4 binding results in a major reorganization of the Env trimer, causing an outward rotation and displacement of each gp120 monomer. This appears to be coupled with a rearrangement of the gp41 region along the central axis of the trimer, leading to closer contact between the viral and target cell membranes. Our findings elucidate the structure and conformational changes of trimeric HIV-1 gp120 relevant to antibody neutralization and attachment to target cells.     

Molecular motions and conformational transition between different conformational states of HIV-1 gp 120 envelope glycoprotein

The HIV-1 gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein undergoes a series of conformational rearrangements while sequentially interacting with the receptor CD4 and coreceptor CCR5 or CXCR4 on the surface of host cells to initiate virus entry. Both the crystal structures of the HIV-1 gp120 core bound by the CD4 and antigen 17b and the SIV gp120 core pre-bound by CD4 are known. Despite the wealth of knowledge on these static snapshots of molecular conformations,the details of molecular motions involved in conformational transition that are crucial to intervention remain elusive. We presented comprehensive comparative analyses of the dynamics behaviors of the gp120 in its CD4-complexed,CD4-free and CD4-unliganded states based on the homology models with modeled V3 and V4 loops by means of CONCOORD computer simulation to generate ensembles of feasible protein structures that were sub-sequently analysed by essential dynamics analyses to identify preferred concerted motions. The re-vealed collective fluctuations are dominated by complex modes of combinational motions of the rota-tion/twisting,flexing/closure,and shortness/elongation between or within the inner,outer,and bridg-ing-sheet domains,and these modes are related to the CD4 association and HIV neutralization avoid-ance. Further essential subspace overlap analyses were performed to quantitatively distinguish the preference for conformational transitions between the three states,revealing that the unliganded gp120 has a greater potential to translate its conformation into the conformational state adopted by the CD4-complexed gp120 than by the CD4-free gp120,whereas the CD4-free gp120 has a greater potential to translate its conformation into the unliganded state than the CD4-complexed gp120 does. These dynamics data of gp120 in its different conformations are helpful in understanding the relationship between the molecular motion/conformational transition and the function of gp120,and in gp120-structure-based subunit vaccine design.     

Induction of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells by immunization with purified HIV-1 envelope protein in ISCOMs

To reduce the risks of immunization with killed or live attenuated virus vaccines, it may be advantageous to use a pure, defined antigen that contains determinants for both humoral and cellular immunity. However, although most non-living intact protein preparations induce antibodies and CD4+ major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted helper and/or cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), they do not elicit CD8+ MHC class I restricted CTL. Indeed, with a few exceptions, it has not so far been possible to induce CD8+ CTL by immunizing with intact soluble proteins. We show here that a single subcutaneous immunization in mice with immunostimulating complexes containing either purified intact gp160 envelope glycoprotein of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 or influenza haemagglutinin results in reproducible and long-lasting priming of HIV specific or influenza-specific CD8+, MHC class I restricted CTL.     

Macrophage and T cell-line tropisms of HIV-1 are determined by specific regions of the envelope gp120 gene

Strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) display a high degree of biological heterogeneity which may be linked to certain clinical manifestation of AIDS. They vary in their ability to infect different cell types, to replicate rapidly and to high titre in culture, to down-modulate the CD4 receptor, and to cause cytopathic changes in infected cells. Some of these in vitro properties correlate with pathogenicity of the virus in vivo. To map the viral determinants of the cellular host range of HIV-1, recombinant viruses were generated between biologically active molecular clones of HIV-1 isolates showing differences in infection of primary peripheral blood macrophages and established T-cell lines. We report here that a specific region of the envelope gp120 gene representing 159 amino-acid residues of glycoprotein gp120 seems to determine macrophage tropism, whereas an overlapping region representing 321 amino-acid residues determines T cell-line tropism. These studies provide a basis for relating functional domains of the HIV-1 env gene to pathogenic potential.     

Superantigen implicated in dependence of HIV-1 replication in T cells on TCR V beta expression.

In the pathogenesis of AIDS it is not yet understood whether the small fraction of CD4+ T cells (approximately 1%) infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are randomly targeted or not. Here we present evidence that human CD4 T-cell lines expressing selected T-cell antigen receptor V beta gene products can all be infected in vitro with HIV-1, but give markedly different titres of HIV-1 virion production. For example, V beta 12 T-cell lines from several unrelated donors reproducibly yielded up to 100-fold more gag gene product (p24gag antigen) than V beta 6.7a lines. This is consistent with a superantigen effect, because the V beta selectivity was observed with several divergent HIV-1 isolates, was dependent on antigen-presenting cells and on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II but was not MHC class II-restricted. The in vivo significance of these findings is supported by the preferential stimulation of V beta 12+ T cells by freshly obtained irradiated antigen-presenting cells from some HIV-1-seropositive but not HIV-1-negative donors. Moreover, cells from patients positive for viral antigen (gp120) were enriched in the V beta 12 subpopulation. V beta 12+ T cells were not deleted in AIDS patients, however, raising the possibility that a variety of mechanisms contribute to T-cell depletion. Our results indicate that a superantigen targets a subpopulation of CD4+ cells for viral replication.     

A soluble CD4 protein selectively inhibits HIV replication and syncytium formation

The CD4 (T4) molecule is expressed on a subset of T lymphocytes involved in class II MHC recognition, and is probably the physiological receptor for one or more monomorphic regions of class II MHC (refs 1-3). CD4 also functions as a receptor for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exterior envelope glycoprotein (gp120) (refs 4-9), being essential for virus entry into the host cell and for membrane fusion, which contributes to cell-to-cell transmission of the virus and to its cytopathic effects. We have used a baculovirus expression system to generate mg quantities of a hydrophilic extracellular segment of CD4. Concentrations of soluble CD4 in the nanomolar range, like certain anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies, inhibit syncytium formation and HIV infection by binding gp120-expressing cells. Perhaps more importantly, class II specific T-cell interactions are uninhibited by soluble CD4 protein, whereas they are virtually abrogated by equivalent amounts of anti-T4 antibody. This may reflect substantial differences in CD4 affinity for gp120 and class II MHC.     

Prevention of HIV-1 IIIB infection in chimpanzees by CD4 immunoadhesin

The first step in infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the specific binding of gp120, the envelope glycoprotein of HIV, to its cellular receptor, CD4. To inhibit this interaction, soluble CD4 analogues that compete for gp120 binding and block HIV infection in vitro have been developed. To determine whether these analogues can protect an uninfected individual from challenge with HIV, we used the chimpanzee model system of cell-free HIV infection. Chimpanzees are readily infected with the IIIB strain of HIV-1, becoming viraemic within about 4-6 weeks of challenge, although they do not develop the profound CD4+ T-cell depletion and immunodeficiency characteristic of HIV infection in humans. CD4 immunoadhesin (CD4-IgG), a chimaeric molecule consisting of the N-terminal two immunoglobulin-like regions of CD4 joined to the Fc region of human IgG1, was selected as the CD4 analogue for testing because it has a longer half-life than CD4, contributed by the IgG Fc portion of the molecule. In humans, this difference results in a 25-fold increased concentration of CD4-IgG in the blood compared with recombinant CD4. Here we report that pretreatment with CD4-IgG can prevent the infection of chimpanzees with HIV-1. The need for a preventative agent is particularly acute in perinatal HIV transmission. As recombinant CD4-IgG, like the parent IgG molecule, efficiently crosses the primate placenta, it may be possible to set up an immune state in a fetus before HIV transfer occurs, thus preventing infection.     

Structural definition of a conserved neutralization epitope on HIV-1 gp120

The remarkable diversity, glycosylation and conformational flexibility of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope (Env), including substantial rearrangement of the gp120 glycoprotein upon binding the CD4 receptor, allow it to evade antibody-mediated neutralization. Despite this complexity, the HIV-1 Env must retain conserved determinants that mediate CD4 binding. To evaluate how these determinants might provide opportunities for antibody recognition, we created variants of gp120 stabilized in the CD4-bound state, assessed binding of CD4 and of receptor-binding-site antibodies, and determined the structure at 2.3 A resolution of the broadly neutralizing antibody b12 in complex with gp120. b12 binds to a conformationally invariant surface that overlaps a distinct subset of the CD4-binding site. This surface is involved in the metastable attachment of CD4, before the gp120 rearrangement required for stable engagement. A site of vulnerability, related to a functional requirement for efficient association with CD4, can therefore be targeted by antibody to neutralize HIV-1.