Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV suppresses IL-2 production and regulatory T cell activity in lupus

J Immunol. 2012 Oct 1;189(7):3490-6. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201785. Epub 2012 Aug 31.

Abstract

The activity of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMK4) is increased in T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and has been shown to reduce IL-2 production by promoting the effect of the transcriptional repressor cAMP responsive element modulator-α on the IL2 promoter. In this article, we demonstrate that T cells from MRL/lpr mice display increased levels of CaMK4 in the nucleus, and that genetic deletion of Camk4 results in improved survival. We demonstrate that absence of CaMK4 restores IL-2 production, curbs increased T cell activation, and augments the number and activity of regulatory T cells. Analogously, silencing of CaMK4 in T cells from patients with SLE increases the expression of FoxP3 on stimulation in the presence of TGF-β. Our results demonstrate the importance of the serine/threonine kinase CaMK4 in the generation and function of regulatory T cells in patients with SLE and lupus-prone mice, and its potential to serve as a therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / biosynthesis
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / deficiency
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / enzymology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology
  • Lupus Nephritis / enzymology
  • Lupus Nephritis / immunology*
  • Lupus Nephritis / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, 129 Strain
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / enzymology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology*

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4
  • Camk4 protein, mouse