Phosphorylation of the LFA-1 Integrin Beta2-chain on Thr-758 Leads to Adhesion, Rac-1/Cdc42 Activation, and Stimulation of CD69 Expression in Human T Cells

Phosphorylation of the leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) integrin beta2-chain on Thr-758 occurs after T cell receptor stimulation and leads to 14-3-3 recruitment to the integrin, actin cytoskeleton reorganization, and increased adhesion. Here, we have investigated the signaling effects of beta2 integrin Thr-758 phosphorylation. A penetratin-coupled phospho-Thr-758-beta2 peptide (mimicking the part of the integrin beta-chain surrounding Thr-758) stimulated adhesion of human T cells to the LFA-1 ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Additionally, the peptide activated the small GTPases Rac-1 and Cdc42 in T cells. Constitutively active forms of Rac-1 and Cdc42, but not Rho, could compensate for the reduction of cell adhesion to ICAM-1 caused by the T758A mutation in the beta2 integrin. Additionally, the active GTPases salvaged the cell-spreading defect of T758A integrin-transfected cells on coated ICAM-1. A dominant negative form of Cdc42, on the other hand, significantly reduced wild-type beta2 integrin-mediated cell adhesion and spreading. In a T cell stimulation system, the pThr-758 penetratin peptide acted in a similar manner to coated ICAM-1 to increase T cell receptor-induced CD69 expression. These results show that Thr-758-phosphorylated LFA-1 is upstream of Rac-1/Cdc42, cell adhesion, and costimulatory activation of human T cells, thus identifying phosphorylation of Thr-758 in beta2 as a proximal element in LFA-1 signaling.