Role of cAMP phosphodiesterase 4 in regulation of T-cell function

Crit Rev Immunol. 2006;26(5):443-51. doi: 10.1615/critrevimmunol.v26.i5.40.

Abstract

Ligation of both the T-cell receptor (TCR) and the CD28 receptor is required for full T-cell activation to occur. Engagement of the TCR in primary T cells is followed by rapid cAMP production in lipid rafts resulting in raft-associated protein kinase A (PKA) activation and inhibition of proximal T-cell signaling. However, upon TCR and CD28 cross-ligation, beta-arrestin in complex with cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is recruited to lipid rafts, thus downregulating cAMP levels. Consequently, the activities of both PKA and PDE4 seem to be important for the regulation of TCR-induced signaling and T-cell function. We, therefore, propose a novel role for TCR and CD28 co-stimulation in the downmodulation of TCR-induced cAMP-mediated inhibitory signals through the recruitment of beta-arrestin and PDE4 to lipid rafts, thus allowing a full T-cell response to occur.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Membrane Microdomains / immunology
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes / enzymology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Cyclic AMP
  • 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4