Critical role for Rsk2 in T-lymphocyte activation

Blood. 2008 Jan 15;111(2):525-33. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-02-072207. Epub 2007 Oct 15.

Abstract

During T-cell activation, a number of cytokine-activated signaling cascades, including the Jak-STAT, phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, play important roles in modulating the expression of target genes and mediating a cellular response. We now report that interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-15, but not IL-7, rapidly activate the p90 ribosomal S6 kinases, Rsk1 and Rsk2, in human T lymphocytes. Surprisingly, mouse spleen T cells transduced with either the wild-type or a dominant-negative (DN) Rsk2-expressing retrovirus could not be recovered, in contrast to the normal survival of T cells transduced with retroviruses expressing wild-type or DN mutants of Rsk1 or Rsk3. Examination of Rsk2 knockout (KO) mice revealed normal T-cell development, but these T cells had delayed cell-cycle progression and lower production of IL-2 in response to anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation in vitro. Moreover, Rsk2 KO mice had defective homeostatic T-cell expansion following sublethal irradiation in vivo, which is known to involve T-cell receptor (TCR), IL-2, and/or IL-15 signals, each of which we demonstrate can rapidly and potently activate Rsk2 in mouse T cells. These results indicate an essential nonredundant role of Rsk2 in T-cell activation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD28 Antigens / genetics
  • CD28 Antigens / immunology
  • CD3 Complex / genetics
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / immunology*
  • Cell Cycle / radiation effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / genetics
  • Enzyme Activation / immunology
  • Enzyme Activation / radiation effects
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / genetics
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / immunology
  • Genes, Dominant / immunology
  • Homeostasis / drug effects
  • Homeostasis / genetics
  • Homeostasis / immunology
  • Homeostasis / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-15 / genetics
  • Interleukin-15 / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / genetics
  • Interleukin-2 / immunology
  • Janus Kinases / genetics
  • Janus Kinases / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / radiation effects
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / immunology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / radiation effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Retroviridae
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa / genetics
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa / immunology*
  • STAT Transcription Factors / genetics
  • STAT Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Whole-Body Irradiation

Substances

  • CD28 Antigens
  • CD3 Complex
  • IL2 protein, human
  • Interleukin-15
  • Interleukin-2
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • Janus Kinases
  • RPS6KA1 protein, human
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa
  • Rps6ka1 protein, mouse
  • ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 90kDa, polypeptide 3
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases