BAP31 is involved in T cell activation through TCR signal pathways

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 23:7:44809. doi: 10.1038/srep44809.

Abstract

BAP31 is a ubiquitously expressed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein. The functions of BAP31 in the immune system have not been investigated due to the lack of animal models. Therefore we created a BAP31 conditional knockdown mouse by performing a knockdown of BAP31 in the thymus. In doing so, we demonstrate that the maturation of T cells is normal but the number of T cells is less in the thymus of the knockout mouse. In addition, the spleen and lymph nodes of peripheral immune organs contained a lesser proportion of the mature T cells in the thymus specific BAP31 knockout mice. The BAP31 knockout T cells decreased the proliferation activated by TCR signal pathways. Further studies clarified that BAP31 affects the phosphorylation levels of both Zap70/Lck/Lat of the upstream members and Akt/GSK/Jnk/Erk of the downstream members of TCR signal pathways. Furthermore, BAP31 can regulate the expression of some markers such as CD3/TCRα/TCRβ and some cytokines like IL-2/IFN-γ/IL-6/TNF-α which are important for T cell activation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that BAP31 may play an important role in T cell activation by regulating TCR signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genetic Loci
  • Immunologic Memory / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Organogenesis / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Thymus Gland / embryology
  • Thymus Gland / metabolism

Substances

  • BCAP31 protein, human
  • Cytokines
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell