Extracellular signal-regulated kinases in T cells. Anti-CD3 and 4 beta- phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced phosphorylation and activation

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 148; no. 10; pp. 3230 - 3237
• Main Authors: Whitehurst, CE, Boulton, TG, Cobb, MH, Geppert, TD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 15-05-1992
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - physiology; CD3 Complex; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Molecular Sequence Data; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinases - analysis; Protein Kinases - metabolism; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - physiology; T-Lymphocytes - enzymology; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology; Tyrosine - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.148.10.3230

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1 and 2 are growth factor- and cytokine-sensitive serine/threonine kinases that are known to phosphorylate microtubule-associated protein 2 and myelin basic protein. The current studies examined whether ERK1 and/or ERK2 was present in T cells and whether they were phosphorylated and activated as a consequence of T cell activation. The data demonstrated that both ERK1 and ERK2 were present in Jurkat cells and peripheral blood T cells. In T cells, ERK2 was more prevalent than ERK1. The concentrations of ERK1 and ERK2 were not altered by stimulating the cells for 16 h with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb or anti-CD3 mAb and phorbol myristate acetate. mAb to CD3 and phorbol myristate acetate stimulated an increase in ERK1 and ERK2 MBP kinase activity. Anti-CD3 mAb triggered an increase their phosphate content which was detectable at 2 min but reached a maximum at 5 min. A portion of the increase in phosphate was caused by an increase in phosphotyrosine. We also examined the rate of ERK2 degradation. ERK2 was stable for up to 36 h, and its degradation was unaffected by the activation state of the cells. The data demonstrate that ERK1 and ERK2 are part of an anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated signal transduction cascade that is downstream of protein kinase C and, therefore, suggest that these kinases play an important role in T cell activation.