SKAP-55 regulates integrin adhesion and formation of T cell-APC conjugates

Nat Immunol. 2003 Apr;4(4):366-74. doi: 10.1038/ni913. Epub 2003 Mar 24.

Abstract

Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein of 55 kDa (SKAP-55; encoded by SCAP1) is a T cell adaptor protein of unknown function that contains a pleckstrin homology and an SH3 domain. Here we show that SKAP-55 regulates integrin-mediated adhesion and conjugate formation between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). SKAP-55 enhances adhesion to fibronectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), colocalizes with actin at the T cell-APC synapse and promotes the clustering of lymphocyte-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1). Enhanced conjugation is comparable to that induced by adhesion and degranulation-promoting adaptor protein (ADAP), a binding partner of SKAP-55, and is abrogated by deletion of the SKAP-55 SH3 domain. Conjugate formation is accompanied by the translocation of SKAP-55 to membrane rafts, an event that is regulated by both LFA-1 and T cell receptor ligation. Our findings identify a mechanism by which SKAP-55 modulates T cell responses to antigen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion / immunology
  • Cell Communication / genetics
  • Cell Communication / immunology*
  • Fibronectins / metabolism
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Integrins / metabolism*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / metabolism
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / immunology
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Retroviridae
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Transduction, Genetic

Substances

  • Fibronectins
  • Integrins
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Phosphoproteins
  • SKAP1 protein, human
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1