MALT1 phosphorylation controls activation of T lymphocytes and survival of ABC-DLBCL tumor cells

Summary: The CARMA1/CARD11-BCL10-MALT1 (CBM) complex bridges T and B cell antigen receptor (TCR/BCR) ligation to MALT1 protease activation and canonical nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. Using unbiased mass spectrometry, we discover multiple serine phosphorylation sites in the MALT1 C terminus after T cell activation. Phospho-specific antibodies reveal that CBM-associated MALT1 is transiently hyper-phosphorylated upon TCR/CD28 co-stimulation. We identify a dual role for CK1α as a kinase that is essential for CBM signalosome assembly as well as MALT1 phosphorylation. Although MALT1 phosphorylation is largely dispensable for protease activity, it fosters canonical NF-κB signaling in Jurkat and murine CD4 T cells. Moreover, constitutive MALT1 phosphorylation promotes survival of activated B cell-type diffuse large B cell lymphoma (ABC-DLBCL) cells addicted to chronic BCR signaling. Thus, MALT1 phosphorylation triggers optimal NF-κB activation in lymphocytes and survival of lymphoma cells. : Gehring et al. identify MALT1 phosphorylation as a process that bridges antigen receptor ligation to downstream signaling pathways in T cells, promotes T lymphocyte activation, and drives survival of B cell lymphoma tumor cells. Keywords: immune response, adaptive immunity, antigen receptor signaling, T cell activation, B cell lymphomas, CBM complex, phosphorylation, NF-kappa B, MALT1, casein kinase 1 alpha