Binding of WIP to actin is essential for T cell actin cytoskeleton integrity and tissue homing

MJ Massaad, MK Oyoshi, J Kane… - … and Cellular Biology, 2014 - Am Soc Microbiol
MJ Massaad, MK Oyoshi, J Kane, S Koduru, P Alcaide, F Nakamura, N Ramesh…
Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2014Am Soc Microbiol
Abstract The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) is important for actin polymerization
in T cells and for their migration. WASp-interacting protein (WIP) binds to and stabilizes
WASp and also interacts with actin. Cytoskeletal and functional defects are more severe in
WIP−/− T cells, which lack WASp, than in WASp−/− T cells, suggesting that WIP interaction
with actin may be important for T cell cytoskeletal integrity and function. We constructed mice
that lack the actin-binding domain of WIP (WIPΔABD mice). WIPΔABD associated normally …
Abstract
The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) is important for actin polymerization in T cells and for their migration. WASp-interacting protein (WIP) binds to and stabilizes WASp and also interacts with actin. Cytoskeletal and functional defects are more severe in WIP−/− T cells, which lack WASp, than in WASp−/− T cells, suggesting that WIP interaction with actin may be important for T cell cytoskeletal integrity and function. We constructed mice that lack the actin-binding domain of WIP (WIPΔABD mice). WIPΔABD associated normally with WASp but not F-actin. T cells from WIPΔABD mice had normal WASp levels but decreased cellular F-actin content, a disorganized actin cytoskeleton, impaired chemotaxis, and defective homing to lymph nodes. WIPΔABD mice exhibited a T cell intrinsic defect in contact hypersensitivity and impaired responses to cutaneous challenge with protein antigen. Adoptively transferred antigen-specific CD4+ T cells from WIPΔABD mice had decreased homing to antigen-challenged skin of wild-type recipients. These findings show that WIP binding to actin, independently of its binding to WASp, is critical for the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton in T cells and for their migration into tissues. Disruption of WIP binding to actin could be of therapeutic value in T cell-driven inflammatory diseases.
American Society for Microbiology