T cell responses are controlled by intracellular signals emanating from ligation of cell surface receptors. While the concept of a second signal has been established for many years, with CD28 representing the initial provider of this second signal, it is clear that signals from several other co-stimulatory receptors are needed for an effective and persistent T cell response. We have extensively studied a member of the TNFR family, namely OX40 (CD134), whose expression is induced on T cells several hours to days after the initial antigen recognition event. We have demonstrated that 0X40 costimulation prolongs clonal expansion of CD4 and CDS T cells by regulating cell cycle progression;enhances T cell differentiation and cytokine secretion particularly toward the Th2 phenotype;and furthermore promotes T cell survival by antagonizing apoptosis. Multiple in vivo studies in varying models of disease over the past 5 or more years have reinforced these conclusions and led to the concept that the synergistic and temporal activities of CD28 and OX40 represent key events in most T cell mediated immune responses. In this renewal application, we seek to extend our functional data and further define molecularly the mode of action of OX40 and how OX40 signals integrate with antigen and CD28 signals. We have shown several common intracellular targets of OX40 including novel molecules survivin and aurora B kinase that regulate G1-S cell cycle progression, and Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bfl-1 that control survival during and after the phase of T cell division. We have developed highly physiological and novel transgenic and retroviral systems to understand regulation of OX40 in primary T cells. We will investigate how OX40 leads to activation of Akt and NF-KB and the extent that these signaling moieties co-operate in promoting cell division and survival of T cells. Specifically, we will determine whether OX40 utilizes PKC0, PDK1, and MEK1/ERK to target Akt and NF-KB, and how these signaling cascades impact the expression and function of survivin and aurora B kinase in regulating division, and the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic molecules in regulating survival. We will further define how OX40 targets NFATd nuclear accumulation leading to IL-4 secretion and Th2 differentiation, and then define signaling complexes induced by OX40 at the T cell membrane in lipid rafts. Lastly, we will use several models of in vivo T cell response involving lung inflammation and anti-tumor activity to extend the in vitro signaling analyses and understand molecularly how co-stimulatory signaling impacts physiological T cell function. These studies are tremendously important in defining the action of OX40 and the integration of co-stimulatory signals, and in understanding which molecular pathways are necessary and sufficient for promoting a long-lived T cell response.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI049453-09
Application #
7995514
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Immunology - B Study Section (CMIB)
Program Officer
Lapham, Cheryl K
Project Start
2001-04-01
Project End
2012-11-30
Budget Start
2010-12-01
Budget End
2011-11-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$416,788
Indirect Cost
Name
La Jolla Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
603880287
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Duan, Wei; Croft, Michael (2014) Control of regulatory T cells and airway tolerance by lung macrophages and dendritic cells. Ann Am Thorac Soc 11 Suppl 5:S306-13
Croft, Michael (2014) The TNF family in T cell differentiation and function--unanswered questions and future directions. Semin Immunol 26:183-90
Nagashima, Hiroyuki; Okuyama, Yuko; Asao, Atsuko et al. (2014) The adaptor TRAF5 limits the differentiation of inflammatory CD4(+) T cells by antagonizing signaling via the receptor for IL-6. Nat Immunol 15:449-56
Boettler, Tobias; Choi, Youn Soo; Salek-Ardakani, Shahram et al. (2013) Exogenous OX40 stimulation during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection impairs follicular Th cell differentiation and diverts CD4 T cells into the effector lineage by upregulating Blimp-1. J Immunol 191:5026-35
Croft, Michael; Benedict, Chris A; Ware, Carl F (2013) Clinical targeting of the TNF and TNFR superfamilies. Nat Rev Drug Discov 12:147-68
Boettler, Tobias; Moeckel, Friedrich; Cheng, Yang et al. (2012) OX40 facilitates control of a persistent virus infection. PLoS Pathog 8:e1002913
Croft, Michael; Duan, Wei; Choi, Heonsik et al. (2012) TNF superfamily in inflammatory disease: translating basic insights. Trends Immunol 33:144-52
Soroosh, Pejman; Doherty, Taylor A; So, Takanori et al. (2011) Herpesvirus entry mediator (TNFRSF14) regulates the persistence of T helper memory cell populations. J Exp Med 208:797-809
So, Takanori; Choi, Heonsik; Croft, Michael (2011) OX40 complexes with phosphoinositide 3-kinase and protein kinase B (PKB) to augment TCR-dependent PKB signaling. J Immunol 186:3547-55
Doherty, Taylor A; Croft, Michael (2011) Therapeutic potential of targeting TNF/TNFR family members in asthma. Immunotherapy 3:919-21

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