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TCR Signaling

Written/Edited by Julian Pampel, BSc

The T-Cell Receptor (TCR) is a protein complex on the surface of T-cells responsible for the recognition of antigens on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APC). Cell surface glycoproteins CD4 and CD8 serve as coreceptors with the TCR primarily for the interaction with the major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) loaded with peptides derived from cytosolic proteins and MHC I with extracellular protein peptides respectively. Activation of the TCR induces a number of signaling cascades, ultimately leading to the transcription of several gene products essential for T cells differentiation, proliferation and secretion of a number of cytokines.

CD45 regulated activation of Src-family kinases LCK and FYN leads to phosphorylation of TCR immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) in CD3, creating a docking site for ZAP-70. Phosphorylation and activation is modulated by CD45. ZAP-70 binds to the CD3 zeta chain, which positions the protein kinase to phosphorylate the transmembrane protein linker of activated T cells (LAT). Signaling proteins like SLP-76 can now dock to LAT and are also phosphorylated by ZAP-70. SLP-76 promotes recruitment of Vav, the adaptor proteins NCK and GRAP2, and an inducible T cell kinase (Itk).

Further recruitment of other protein upon LAT and SLP-76 phosphorylation leads to calcium mobilization, Ras Activation and cytoskeletal reorganization. Phosphorylation of phospholipase C γ1 (PLCγ1) by the Itk results in the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to produce the second messenger inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). DAG activates PKC4 and the MAPK/Erk pathways cascade which leads to activation of transcription factor NF-κB and ATF2 activation and relocation into nucleus. IP3 promotes release of Ca²⁺ from the ER, which triggers entry of extracellular Ca²⁺ into cells through calcium release-activated Ca²⁺ (CRAC) channels. Calcium-bound calmodulin (Ca²⁺/CaM) activates the phosphatase calcineurin. Transcription factor NFAT gets activated and promotes IL-2 gene transcription.

TCR signaling is regulated on several levels to diversify the cell response. Extracellular signals are recognized by additional cell surface receptors like CD28 or LFA-1 and modulate cellular response further. Besides, tight negative regulation is essential to prevent hyperactivation of the pathway and the associated immune response.

T cell response is a crucial part of the adaptive immune response. While antibody production by B cells is the focus to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19, an adaptive T cell response is likely equally important, in particular considering variants of concern such as the recently emerging B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1 lineages. Virus-specific effector CD8⁺ cells resulting from an infection or vaccination can kill infected cells and form memory CD8⁺ cells for a later infection. Furthermore, T cells hold great promise in adoptive T cell (ATC) cancer immunotherapy using engineered chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and are at the core of potential cancer vaccines based on tumor-derived neoantigens.

References:

Liu, Liu, Meller, Giampa, Elly, Doyle, Altman: "Protein kinase C activation inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl and its recruitment of Src homology 2 domain-containing proteins." in: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), Vol. 162, Issue 12, pp. 7095-101, (1999) (PubMed).
Wang, Altman, Fang, Elly, Dai, Shao, Liu: "Cbl promotes ubiquitination of the T cell receptor zeta through an adaptor function of Zap-70." in: The Journal of biological chemistry, Vol. 276, Issue 28, pp. 26004-11, (2001) (PubMed).
Leet, Chalcroft: "Rapid method for processing entire biopsy pieces for light and electron microscopy." in: Laboratory practice, Vol. 23, Issue 2, pp. 59-60, (1974) (PubMed).
van Panhuys: "TCR Signal Strength Alters T-DC Activation and Interaction Times and Directs the Outcome of Differentiation." in: Frontiers in immunology, Vol. 7, pp. 6, (2016) (PubMed).
Courtney, Amacher, Kadlecek, Mollenauer, Au-Yeung, Kuriyan, Weiss: "A Phosphosite within the SH2 Domain of Lck Regulates Its Activation by CD45." in: Molecular cell, Vol. 67, Issue 3, pp. 498-511.e6, (2017) (PubMed).
Tay, Poh, Rénia, MacAry, Ng: "The trinity of COVID-19: immunity, inflammation and intervention." in: Nature reviews. Immunology, Vol. 20, Issue 6, pp. 363-374, (2020) (PubMed).
Waldman, Fritz, Lenardo: "A guide to cancer immunotherapy: from T cell basic science to clinical practice." in: Nature reviews. Immunology, Vol. 20, Issue 11, pp. 651-668, (2020) (PubMed).
Tarke, Sidney, Kidd, Dan, Ramirez, Yu, Mateus, da Silva Antunes, Moore, Rubiro, Methot, Phillips, Mallal, Frazier, Rawlings, Greenbaum, Peters, Smith, Crotty, Weiskopf, Grifoni, Sette: "Comprehensive analysis of T cell immunodominance and immunoprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 epitopes in COVID-19 cases." in: Cell reports. Medicine, Vol. 2, Issue 2, pp. 100204, (2021) (PubMed).

Receptor and Membrane Proteins

CD3 (CD3):

CD4 (CD4):

CD8A - CD8 alpha:

Stim2 (Stromal Interaction Molecule 2):

CD28 (CD28):

TRAT1 - TRIM:

B2M - beta-2 Microglobulin:

CD247 (CD247 Molecule):

CD3E - CD3 epsilon:

CD3G (CD3g Molecule, gamma (CD3-TCR Complex)):

CD3D (CD3d Molecule, delta (CD3-TCR Complex)):

CD80 (CD80):

CD86 (CD86):

CD8A - CD8 alpha:

CD8B (CD8b Molecule):

HLA-DRA (HLA Class II DR alpha):

HLA-DRB1 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DR beta 1):

HLA-DRB3 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DR beta 3):

HLA-DRB4 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DR beta 4):

HLA-ABC (HLA-ABC):

HLA-ABC Antibodies

LAT (Linker For Activation of T Cells):

HLA-A (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class I, A):

HLA-DPA1 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DP alpha 1):

HLA-DPB1 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DP beta 1):

HLA-DQA1 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DQ alpha 1):

HLA-DQA2 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DQ alpha 2):

HLA-DQB1 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DQ beta 1):

HLA-DQB2 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DQ beta 2):

HLA-DRB5 (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DR beta 5):

SHC1 (SHC (Src Homology 2 Domain Containing) Transforming Protein 1):

SLC25A20 (Solute Carrier Family 25 (Carnitine/acylcarnitine Translocase), Member 20):

TRAF6 (TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6):

TMEM189 (Transmembrane Protein 189):

STIM1 (Stromal Interaction Molecule 1):

Adaptor Proteins and Regulators

GAB2 (GRB2-Associated Binding Protein 2):

GRAP2 (GRB2-Related Adaptor Protein 2):

GRB2 (Growth Factor Receptor-Bound Protein 2):

LCP2 (Lymphocyte Cytosolic Protein 2 (SH2 Domain Containing Leukocyte Protein of 76kDa)):

MALT1 (Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation Gene 1):

NCK1 (NCK Adaptor Protein 1):

PAG1 (phosphoprotein Associated with Glycosphingolipid Microdomains 1):

PTPN11 (Protein tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11):

PTPRC - CD45:

PTPN6 - SHP1:

SH3BP2 (SH3-Domain Binding Protein 2):

GEFs and PLCs (Ca2+ regulated)

CBL (Cas-Br-M (Murine) Ecotropic Retroviral Transforming Sequence):

CDC42 (Cell Division Cycle 42 (GTP Binding Protein, 25kDa)):

FLNA - Filamin A:

ORAI1 (ORAI Calcium Release-Activated Calcium Modulator 1):

PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog):

Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Antibodies

PIPLC - Phosphoinositide-Specific phospholipase C:

Phosphoinositide-Specific phospholipase C ELISA Kits

PLC (Phospholipase C):

PLCG1 - Phospholipase C gamma 1:

RAP1A (RAP1A, Member of RAS Oncogene Family):

RASSF5 (Ras Association (RalGDS/AF-6) Domain Family Member 5):

RASGRP1 (RAS Guanyl Releasing Protein 1 (Calcium and DAG-Regulated)):

RASGRP2 (RAS Guanyl Releasing Protein 2 (Calcium and DAG-Regulated)):

SOS1 (Son of Sevenless Homolog 1):

STIM1 (Stromal Interaction Molecule 1):

TRPV6 (Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel, Subfamily V, Member 6):

VASP (Vasodilator-Stimulated phosphoprotein):

VAV1 (Vav 1 Oncogene):

Kinases

ZAP70 (zeta-Chain (TCR) Associated Protein Kinase 70kDa):

PDPK1 (3-phosphoinositide Dependent Protein Kinase-1):

AURKB - Aurora Kinase B:

CSK (C-Src tyrosine Kinase):

CHUK - IKK alpha:

DRB1 (Dopamine Receptor Binding 1):

Show all DRB1 products

DBNL (Drebrin-Like):

FYN (FYN Oncogene Related To SRC, FGR, YES):

FYB (FYN-Binding Protein):

ITK (IL2-Inducible T-Cell Kinase):

INPP5D (Inositol Polyphosphate-5-Phosphatase, 145kDa):

LCK (Lymphocyte-Specific Protein tyrosine Kinase):

MAP3K14 (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 14):

MAP3K7 (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 7):

MAP3K8 (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 8):

MAP4K1 (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase Kinase 1):

PAK1 (P21-Activated Kinase 1):

PAK2 (P21-Activated Kinase 2):

PIK3CA (Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase, Catalytic, alpha Polypeptide):

PI3K p85a - PIK3R1:

PKC (Protein Kinase C):

PKCa - PKC alpha:

PRKCB - PKC beta:

PRKCE - PKC epsilon:

PRKCQ - PKC theta:

RIPK2 (Receptor-Interacting Serine-threonine Kinase 2):

TAB2 (TGF-beta Activated Kinase 1/MAP3K7 Binding Protein 2):

AKT1 (V-Akt Murine Thymoma Viral Oncogene Homolog 1):

Transcription Factors

BCL10 (B-Cell CLL/lymphoma 10):

CARD11 (Caspase Recruitment Domain Family, Member 11):

CCK - Cholecystokinin:

CREBBP - CBP:

IKBKB (Inhibitor of kappa Light Polypeptide Gene Enhancer in B-Cells, Kinase beta):

IKBKG (Inhibitor of kappa Light Polypeptide Gene Enhancer in B-Cells, Kinase gamma):

NFKB1 (Nuclear Factor of kappa Light Polypeptide Gene Enhancer in B-Cells 1):

NFKBIA (Nuclear Factor of kappa Light Polypeptide Gene Enhancer in B-Cells Inhibitor, alpha):