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The efficacy of antitumor immunity is associated with the metabolic state of cytotoxic T cells, which is sensitive to the tumor microenvironment. Whether ionic signals affect adaptive antitumor immune responses is unclear. In the present study, we show that there is an enrichment of sodium in solid tumors from patients with breast cancer. Sodium chloride (NaCl) enhances the activation state and effector functions of human CD8+T cells, which is associated with enhanced metabolic fitness. These NaCl-induced effects translate into increased tumor cell killing in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NaCl-induced changes in CD8+T cells are linked to sodium-induced upregulation of Na+/K+-ATPase activity, followed by membrane hyperpolarization, which magnifies the electromotive force for T cell receptor (TCR)-induced calcium influx and downstream TCR signaling. We therefore propose that NaCl is a positive regulator of acute antitumor immunity that might be modulated for ex vivo conditioning of therapeutic T cells, such as CAR T cells.

Chlamydia trachomatis(Ct) is the most common cause for bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide with a tremendous impact on public health. With the aim to unravel novel targets of the chlamydia life cycle, we screen a compound library and identify 28 agents to significantly reduce Ctgrowth. The known anti-infective agent pentamidine—one of the top candidates of the screen—shows anti-chlamydia activity in low concentrations by changing the metabolism of host cells impairing chlamydia growth. Furthermore, it effectively decreases the Ctburden upon local or systemic application in mice. Pentamidine also inhibits the growth of Neisseria gonorrhea(Ng), which is a common co-infection of Ct. The conducted compound screen is powerful in exploring antimicrobial compounds against Ctin a medium-throughput format. Following thorough in vitroand in vivoassessments, pentamidine emerges as a promising agent for topical prophylaxis or treatment against Ctand possibly other bacterial STIs.

Rational design of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) with optimized anticancer performance mandates detailed knowledge of how CARs engage tumor antigens and how antigen engagement triggers activation. We analyzed CAR-mediated antigen recognition via quantitative, single-molecule, live-cell imaging and found the sensitivity of CAR T cells toward antigen approximately 1,000-times reduced as compared to T cell antigen-receptor-mediated recognition of nominal peptide–major histocompatibility complexes. While CARs outperformed T cell antigen receptors with regard to antigen binding within the immunological synapse, proximal signaling was significantly attenuated due to inefficient recruitment of the tyrosine-protein kinase ZAP-70 to ligated CARs and its reduced concomitant activation and subsequent release. Our study exposes signaling deficiencies of state-of-the-art CAR designs, which presently limit the efficacy of CAR T cell therapies to target tumors with diminished antigen expression.

The plasminogen system is harnessed in a wide variety of physiological processes, such as fibrinolysis, cell migration, or efferocytosis; and accordingly, it is essential upon inflammation, tissue remodeling, wound healing, and for homeostatic maintenance in general. Previously, we identified a plasminogen receptor in the mannose 6‐phosphate/insulin‐like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R, CD222). Here, we demonstrate by means of genetic knockdown, knockout, and rescue approaches combined with functional studies that M6P/IGF2R is up‐regulated on the surface of macrophages, recognizes plasminogen exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells, and mediates plasminogen‐induced efferocytosis. The level of uptake of plasminogen‐coated apoptotic cells inversely correlates with the TNF‐α production by phagocytes indicating tissue clearance without inflammation by this mechanism. Our results reveal an up‐to‐now undetermined function of M6P/IGF2R in clearance of apoptotic cells, which is crucial for tissue homeostasis. M6P/IGF2R, a central endosomal transporter, is upregulated on differentiated macrophages and mediates the uptake of apoptotic cells coated with plasminogen.

T cell antigen recognition requires T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) engaging MHC-embedded antigenic peptides (pMHCs) within the contact region of a T cell with its conjugated antigen-presenting cell. Despite micromolar TCR:pMHC affinities, T cells respond to even a single antigenic pMHC, and higher-order TCRs have been postulated to maintain high antigen sensitivity and trigger signaling. We interrogated the stoichiometry of TCRs and their associated CD3 subunits on the surface of living T cells through single-molecule brightness and single-molecule coincidence analysis, photon-antibunching-based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and Förster resonance energy transfer measurements. We found exclusively monomeric TCR–CD3 complexes driving the recognition of antigenic pMHCs, which underscores the exceptional capacity of single TCR–CD3 complexes to elicit robust intracellular signaling. Higher-order TCRs have been postulated to maintain high antigen sensitivity and trigger signaling. Huppa and colleagues use various investigative techniques and find exclusively monomeric TCR–CD3 complexes that drive the recognition of antigenic pMHC.

The skin lesion erythema migrans is a characteristic early manifestation of Lyme borreliosis in humans. However, the pathomechanisms leading to development of this erythema are not fully understood. Models that mimic human skin would enhance research in this field. Human and porcine skin structures strongly resemble each other. Therefore, we attempted to induce erythema migrans lesions in experimental Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato infection in the skin of domestic pigs. The formation of erythema migrans-like lesions was observed after intradermal injection of these spirochetes, with the lesions forming very clearly in 2/6 animals when a strain of B. gariniiwas used. However, no molecular or clinical proof of systemic infection of the pigs with B. afzelii, B. burgdorferisensu stricto, or B. gariniicould be achieved.

RASGRP1 is an important guanine nucleotide exchange factor and activator of the RAS-MAPK pathway following T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling. The consequences of RASGRP1 mutations in humans are unknown. In a patient with recurrent bacterial and viral infections, born to healthy consanguineous parents, we used homozygosity mapping and exome sequencing to identify a biallelic stop-gain variant in RASGRP1. This variant segregated perfectly with the disease and has not been reported in genetic databases. RASGRP1 deficiency was associated in T cells and B cells with decreased phosphorylation of the extracellular-signal-regulated serine kinase ERK, which was restored following expression of wild-type RASGRP1. RASGRP1 deficiency also resulted in defective proliferation, activation and motility of T cells and B cells. RASGRP1-deficient natural killer (NK) cells exhibited impaired cytotoxicity with defective granule convergence and actin accumulation. Interaction proteomics identified the dynein light chain DYNLL1 as interacting with RASGRP1, which links RASGRP1 to cytoskeletal dynamics. RASGRP1-deficient cells showed decreased activation of the GTPase RhoA. Treatment with lenalidomide increased RhoA activity and reversed the migration and activation defects of RASGRP1-deficient lymphocytes.

We present a method to robustly discriminate clustered from randomly distributed molecules detected with techniques based on single-molecule localization microscopy, such as PALM and STORM. The approach is based on deliberate variation of labeling density, such as titration of fluorescent antibody, combined with quantitative cluster analysis, and it thereby circumvents the problem of cluster artifacts generated by overcounting of blinking fluorophores. The method was used to analyze nanocluster formation in resting and activated immune cells.

Ticks are vectors for many bacterial, protozoan and viral pathogens and are potential vectors for Bartonellaspecies. Hunters and foresters, therefore, may be regarded as high-risk groups for Bartonellainfections. The aims of this study were (i) to identify Bartonellaspecies in questing Ixodes ricinusticks collected in all provinces of Austria, and (ii) to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Bartonellaspecies in hunters and blood donors in eastern Austria. A total of 515 larval, nymphal and adult I. ricinus, collected throughout Austria in 2005, were selected from the tick library at the Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology of the Medical University of Vienna and screened in a specific real-time PCR that targeted a region of the ssrAgene of Bartonellaspecies. The overall Bartonellainfection rate was 2.1% (11/515) and the highest rate, 7.5% (4/53), was found in ticks from Vienna. This finding was confirmed by screening a further 60 I. ricinuscollected from Vienna in 2013: of these, 6.7% (4/60) were positive for Bartonellaspp. The rate of infection was always higher in adult ticks. Sequence analysis in the Bartonella-positive ticks identified several species, including B. henselae, B. doshiaeand B. grahamii. To our knowledge this is the first time that these species have been identified in I. ricinusin Austria. Prevalence of IgG antibodies against B. henselaeand B. quintanawas determined in serum samples from hunters (100) and blood donors (100): in hunters 23% were positive for B. quintanaand in 2 samples (2%), antibodies to both B. quintanaand B. henselaewere detected; in blood donors 22% were positive for B. quintana, 1% for B. henselaeand 5% for both. These results indicate that exposure to ticks does not constitutes a relevant risk for Bartonellainfection.

During embryonic development, lymph sacs form from the cardinal vein, and sprout centrifugally to form mature lymphatic networks. Separation of the lymphatic from the blood circulation by a hitherto unknown mechanism is essential for the homeostatic function of the lymphatic system. O-glycans on the lymphatic endothelium have recently been suggested to be required for establishment and maintenance of distinct blood and lymphatic systems, primarily by mediating proper function of podoplanin. Here, we show that this separation process critically involves platelet activation by podoplanin. We found that platelet aggregates build up in wild-type embryos at the separation zone of podoplanin+ lymph sacs and cardinal veins, but not in podoplanin−/− embryos. Thus, podoplanin−/− mice develop a “nonseparation” phenotype, characterized by a blood-filled lymphatic network after approximately embryonic day 13.5, which, however, partially resolves in postnatal mice. The same embryonic phenotype is also induced by treatment of pregnant mice with acetyl salicylic acid, podoplanin-blocking antibodies, or by inactivation of the kindlin-3 gene required for platelet aggregation. Therefore, interaction of endothelial podoplanin of the developing lymph sac with circulating platelets from the cardinal vein is critical for separating the lymphatic from the blood vascular system.

Recent developments in proteomics technology offer new opportunities for clinical applications in hospital or specialized laboratories including the identification of novel biomarkers, monitoring of disease, detecting adverse effects of drugs, and environmental hazards. Advanced spectrometry technologies and the development of new protein array formats have brought these analyses to a standard, which now has the potential to be used in clinical diagnostics. Besides standardization of methodologies and distribution of proteomic data into public databases, the nature of the human body fluid proteome with its high dynamic range in protein concentrations, its quantitation problems, and its extreme complexity present enormous challenges. Molecular cell biology cytomics with its link to proteomics is a new fast moving scientific field, which addresses functional cell analysis and bioinformatic approaches to search for novel cellular proteomic biomarkers or their release products into body fluids that provide better insight into the enormous biocomplexity of disease processes and are suitable for patient stratification, therapeutic monitoring, and prediction of prognosis. Experience from studies of in vitro diagnostics and especially in clinical chemistry showed that the majority of errors occurs in the preanalytical phase and the setup of the diagnostic strategy. This is also true for clinical proteomics where similar preanalytical variables such as inter and intraassay variability due to biological variations or proteolytical activities in the sample will most likely also influence the results of proteomics studies. However, before complex proteomic analysis can be introduced at a broader level into the clinic, standardization of the preanalytical phase including patient preparation, sample collection, sample preparation, sample storage, measurement, and data analysis is another issue which has to be improved. In this report, we discuss the recent advances and applications that fulfill the criteria for clinical proteomics with the focus on cellular proteomics cytoproteomics as related to preanalytical and analytical standardization and to quality control measures required for effective implementation of these technologies and analytes into routine laboratory testing to generate novel actionable health information. It will then be crucial to design and carry out clinical studies that can eventually identify novel clinical diagnostic strategies based on these techniques and validate their impact on clinical decision making. © 2009 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry

The multifunctional mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R) is considered a tumor suppressor. We report here that RNA interference with M6P/IGF2R expression in urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expressing human cancer and endothelial cells resulted in increased pericellular plasminogen activation, cell adhesion, and higher invasive potential through matrigel. M6P/IGF2R silencing led also to the cell surface accumulation of urokinase and plasminogen and enhanced expression of αV integrins. Genetic rescue experiments and inhibitor studies revealed that the enhanced plasminogen activation was due to a direct effect of M6P/IGF2R on uPAR, whereas increased cell adhesion to vitronectin was dependent on αV integrin expression and not uPAR. Increased cell invasion of M6P/IGF2R knockdown cells was rescued by cosilencing both uPAR and αV integrin. Furthermore, we found that M6P/IGF2R expression accelerates the cleavage of uPAR. M6P/IGF2R silencing resulted in an increased ratio of full-length uPAR to the truncated D2D3 fragment, incapable of binding most uPAR ligands. We conclude that M6P/IGF2R controls cell invasion by regulating αV integrin expression and by accelerating uPAR cleavage, leading to the loss of the urokinase/vitronectin/integrin-binding site on uPAR.

The multifunctional mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R) is considered a tumor suppressor. We report here that RNA interference with M6P/IGF2R expression in urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expressing human cancer and endothelial cells resulted in increased pericellular plasminogen activation, cell adhesion, and higher invasive potential through matrigel. M6P/IGF2R silencing led also to the cell surface accumulation of urokinase and plasminogen and enhanced expression of αV integrins. Genetic rescue experiments and inhibitor studies revealed that the enhanced plasminogen activation was due to a direct effect of M6P/IGF2R on uPAR, whereas increased cell adhesion to vitronectin was dependent on αV integrin expression and not uPAR. Increased cell invasion of M6P/IGF2R knockdown cells was rescued by cosilencing both uPAR and αV integrin. Furthermore, we found that M6P/IGF2R expression accelerates the cleavage of uPAR. M6P/IGF2R silencing resulted in an increased ratio of full-length uPAR to the truncated D2D3 fragment, incapable of binding most uPAR ligands. We conclude that M6P/IGF2R controls cell invasion by regulating αV integrin expression and by accelerating uPAR cleavage, leading to the loss of the urokinase/vitronectin/integrin-binding site on uPAR.

Monitoring protein function with high throughput at individual cell level is of high interest both for basic research and diagnostic applications. For this, following the changes in fluorescence resonance energy transfer FRET between a donoracceptor pair, genetically encoded in the proteins of interest, is a frequently used tool. As proteins attached to or located in the plasma membrane represent a considerable fraction of total proteins, there is a need for high throughput imaging techniques suited for observation of proteins in the cell membrane only. A system is presented, which allows rapid imaging of large areas via total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy TIRFM conditions, using a focushold system, multiwavelength excitation and dual color detection. The developed imaging system enables screening of large numbers of cells under TIRFM illumination combined with FRET imaging, thereby providing the means to record, e.g., FRETefficiency of a membraneassociated protein labeled with a donor–acceptor pair. The capability of the system to perform liveFRET scanning with TIRFM on stoichiometric FRET constructs, reaching throughputs of up to 1,000 cellss at the optical resolution limit is demonstrated. A comparison with confocal microscopy shows that TIRFM offers a 4.2fold advantage in our conditions over confocal microscopy in detecting contributions from membranelocalized proteins. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry

Many of the leukocyte cell surface molecules are known by “CD” numbers. In this Appendix, a short introduction describes the history and the use of CD nomenclature and provides a few key references to enable access to the wider literature. This is followed by a table that lists all human molecules with approved CD names, tabulating alternative names, key structural features, cellular expression, major known functions, and usefulness of the molecules or antibodies against them in research or clinical applications. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 80:A.4A.1‐A.4A.73. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

There has been emerging interest whether plasma membrane constituents are moving according to free Brownian motion or hop diffusion. In the latter model, lipids, lipid-anchored proteins, and transmembrane proteins would be transiently confined to periodic corrals in the cell membrane, which are structured by the underlying membrane skeleton. Because this model is based exclusively on results provided by one experimental strategy—high-resolution single particle tracking—we attempted in this study to confirm or amend it using a complementary technique. We developed a novel strategy that employs single molecule fluorescence microscopy to detect confinements to free diffusion of CD59—a GPI-anchored protein—in the plasma membrane of living T24 (ECV) cells. With this method, minimum invasive labeling via fluorescent Fab fragments was sufficient to measure the lateral motion of individual protein molecules on a millisecond timescale, yielding a positional accuracy down to 22nm. Although no hop diffusion was directly observable, based on a full analytical description our results provide upper boundaries for confinement size and strength.

Therapeutic targeting of Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) has received particular attention, because it is associated with the common signaling of cytokine receptors and thus vitally influences T-cell growth and survival. Recent evidence, however, indicates a critical role for JAK3 in signaling linked to the T-cell antigen receptor.

This appendix lists the cluster of differentiation (CD) designations for the nearly 300 different leukocyte surface molecules that have been assigned and approved by the nomenclature committee of the International Union of Immunological societies (IUIS).

In order to identify new molecules involved in regulation of T cell proliferation, we generated various mAb by immunization of mice with the T cell line Molt4. We found one mAb (termed P-3E10) that down-regulated the in vitro T cell proliferation induced by CD3-specific OKT3 mAb. The P-3E10 mAb was also able to inhibit IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 production of OKT3-activated T cells. The antigen recognized by P-3E10 mAb is broadly expressed on all hematopoietic as well as on all non-hematopoietic cell lines tested so far. Within peripheral blood leukocytes, the P-3E10 antigen was detected on lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) also scored positively. By evaluating the effect of P-3E10 mAb on these cell types we found that it also inhibited anti-IgM-induced B cell proliferation. However, it did not block growth factor-mediated proliferation of HUVEC, and spontaneous proliferation of SupT-1, Jurkat, Molt4 and U937 cell lines. Moreover, it did not influence phagocytosis of human blood monocytes and granulocytes. Biochemical analysis revealed that the P-3E10 antigen is a protein with a mol. wt of 45-50 kDa under non-reducing and 50-55 kDa under reducing conditions. By using a retroviral cloning system, the P-3E10 antigen was cloned. Sequence analysis revealed the P-3E10 antigen to be identical to the beta3 subunit of the Na,K-ATPase.

Leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation is a multistep process involving transient adhesion to the endothelium followed by cell surface-controlled proteolysis for transmigration through the vessel wall and chemotactic movement within tissues. One of the key players in this machinery appears to be the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/uPA receptor system. The role of uPA and its receptor (CD87) in plasminogen (Plg) activation, cell adhesion, and chemotaxis is well established; however, less is known of how these activities are regulated. Here we provide evidence that the mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (CD222) controls CD87-mediated functions. Expression of human CD222 in CD222-/- mouse fibroblasts down-regulated Plg activation, cell adhesion, and chemotaxis induced by the uPA/CD87 system. In addition, we demonstrate that the N-terminal region of CD222, which is similar to the Plg-binding site of streptokinase, plays a crucial role in binding of CD87 and Plg. A peptide derived from this region in CD222 is able to disrupt the physical interaction of CD222 with CD87 and, furthermore, mimics the inhibitory effects of CD222 on CD87 functions. Taken together, our results indicate a novel role for CD222 in regulation of fibrinolysis, cell adhesion, and migration.

CD93 is a ∼120 kDa O‐sialoglycoprotein that within the hematopoietic system is selectively expressed on cells of the myeloid lineage. So far, its primary structure and function were unknown. We used retroviral‐expression cloning to isolate the CD93 cDNA. Sequence analysis revealed that CD93 is identical to a protein on human phagocytes termed C1q receptor (C1qRp). C1qRp was shown previously to mediate enhancement of phagocytosis in monocytes and was suggested to be a receptor of C1q and two other structurally related molecules. When studying CD93 transductants and control cells, we found that cells expressing CD93 have enhanced capacity to bind C1q. Furthermore, we show that immature dendritic cells (DC) express CD93/C1qRp, and mature DC, known to have reduced capacity for antigen uptake and to have lost the ability to phagocytose, show weak‐to‐negative CD93/C1qRp expression.

Tyrphostin AG490 has recently been shown to block interleukin (IL)-2 receptor -chain-associated Janus kinase 3. Here, we analyzed the effect of AG490 on T-cell alloresponses in vitro.

Whether infection with Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato (sl) can cause nonspecific symptoms is a matter of controversy.We investigated whether individuals infected with B. burgdorferisl develop unspecific symptoms more frequently than non-infected controls. Eighty-nine persons having presented with B. burgdorferisl infection between 2015 and 2019 were asked to participate. The infection was defined as erythema migrans diagnosed either in the course of a previous study, during medical visits in the outpatient department, or as seroconversion in asymptomatic subjects. The control group consisted of 85 seronegative individuals without erythema migrans in the past. About two and a half years later, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire with a list of nonspecific symptoms. The data of 37 persons with previous Borreliainfection and 49 uninfected controls were available for analysis. Muscle pain was significantly (P = 0.040) more frequent in the control group. Fatigue occurred more often in the infected group, but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.109). Likewise, the distribution of other symptoms did not differ considerably. The analysis revealed no difference in the frequency of symptoms of persons who had EM or asymptomatic Borreliainfection 2 years prior assessment in comparison to persons without Borreliainfection.

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a critical cytokine for cell proliferation and differentiation. It is secreted by many cells in a latent pro-form (LTGF-β1) from which biologically active TGF-β1 is released by an in vivo mechanism that is not known. Here we show that the mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II-receptor (M6P/IGFII-R), which binds LTGF-β1, complexes with urokinase (plasminogen activator)-receptor (uPA-R) on the surface of human monocytes and directly binds plasminogen (Plg). Plasmin generated from Plg in the complex mediates release of TGF-β1 when M6P/IGFII-R is associated with uPA-R. Thus, this interaction of M6P/IGFII-R and uPA-R suggests a potential mechanism for the generation of TGF-β1 by cells.

It is well known that Acetobacter is extremely sensitive in high total concentrations (GK)1 of ethanol and acetic acid. In the acetator, at a total concentration (GK) of 13%, ATP pool and growth show reverse behaviour. During the stationary, acidifying phase, the extracellular adenylate concentration amounts to 70% of the total edenylate pool (AN=ATP+ADP+AMP). In this range, the average value of the intracellular energy charge [EC=(ATP+1/2ADP)/(ATP+ADP+AMP)] is 0.82.

Ten monoclonal antibodies to human leukocyte subsets that had previously been shown to lyse their respective target cells in the presence of rabbit serum as complement source were evaluated for their cytolytic capacity with human complement. Four of the ten were lytic with human complement. All were of IgM type.

In the present report the immunosuppressive effects of the murine anti-human CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) VIT4 on human alloimmune response in vitrowere analyzed. Moreover, the antibody was tested for its activity to prolong allograft survival in seven patients with steroid-refractory allograft rejection.

Soluble forms of membrane receptors are emerging candidates as physiological regulators of leukocyte trafficking. In the present study, we found that the soluble form of the CD38 antigen (sCD38) bears a binding domain of low affinity for a cellular receptor on U937 cells. Cross-linking and peptide-mapping studies confirmed the physical association and the identification of the U937 receptor as a 130 kDa protein. The binding of sCD38 to the receptor was differentially inhibited by several monoclonal antibodies against the CD31 cell-adhesion molecule. Thus the interaction was analysed through direct association of soluble and membrane CD38 with soluble recombinant murine CD31 with three N-terminal and with all six extracellular Ig domains. Cross-linking experiments on U937 intact cells, and ligand blot assays of the immunoprecipitated CD38 molecule, indicated that (i) the recognized epitope is determined by the tertiary structure of the molecule, and that (ii) the binding domain involved resides in the ectocellular portion of the CD31 molecule, more precisely in the first three N-terminal domains. A comparative functional activity between murine and human CD31 was also explored. The data presented suggest that (i) human CD31 bears a highly functional similarity with its murine counterpart, as it is a receptor in myeloid cells with more than one ligand (the αvβ3 integrin and the CD38 molecule), and that (ii) the activity of sCD38 as decoy molecule for CD31 may play an important role in cell-cell interactions in physiological and pathological conditions.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins can deliver costimulatory signals to lymphocytes, but the exact pathway of signal transduction involved is not yet characterized. GPI-anchored proteins are fixed to the cell surface solely by a phospholipid moiety and are clustered in distinct membrane domains that are formed by an unique lipid composition requiring cholesterol. To elucidate the role of membrane lipids for signal transduction via GPI-anchored proteins, we studied the influence of reduced cellular cholesterol content on calcium signaling via GPI-anchored CD59 and CD48 in Jurkat T cells. Lowering cholesterol by different inhibitors of cellular cholesterol synthesis suppressed calcium response via GPI-anchored proteins by about 50%, whereas stimulation via CD3 was only minimally affected (<10%). The decrease in overall calcium response via GPI-anchored proteins was reflected by inhibition of calcium release from intracellular stores. Cell surface expression of GPI-anchored proteins was not changed quantitatively by lowering cellular cholesterol, and neither was the pattern of immunofluorescence in microscopic examination. In addition, the distribution of GPI-anchored proteins in detergent-insoluble complexes remained unaltered. These results suggest that cellular cholesterol is an important prerequisite for signal transduction via GPI-anchored proteins beyond formation of membrane domains.

The immunological definition of malignant lymphatic cells has already been routinely applied by many laboratories over a number of years. Today it is clear and undisputed that the phenotypic data obtained in that way are often very useful and supporting.

The association of lipid rafts with nuclei during partial cell lysis enables their analysis by flow cytometry.

T cell activation involves the conformational activation of the tyrosine kinase Lck.

By using several examples of cell surface receptors (MHC class II, CD47, CD147) we showed that low-affinity antibodies selectively recognize clustered subsets of the respective molecules. Monovalent binding of these antibodies is kinetically unstable because of their high dissociation rate. Therefore, their sufficiently firm binding to the cell surface can be only achieved under the conditions favouring bivalent (IgG) or multivalent (IgM) interactions. From the kinetic measurements, it is evident that low-affinity whole antibodies induce receptor multimerization under increased temperature and prolonged incubation. Distinct cell types are characterized by the presence or absence of preformed multimerized receptors, which has been confirmed by several indirect biochemical methods. In the light of the importance of receptor dimerization/multimerization for signal transmission to the cell interior, we could employ low-affinity antibodies as important tools targeting oligomerized receptors and in combination with the very sensitive techniques (such as molecular recognition force microscopy) could gain more information on the cell surface topography in the future.