An immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM), is a conserved sequence of amino acids that is found intracellularly in the cytoplasmic domains of many inhibitory receptors of the non-catalytic tyrosine-phosphorylated receptor family found on immune cells.[1][2] These immune cells include T cells, B cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and mast cells. ITIMs have similar structures of S/I/V/LxYxxI/V/L, where x is any amino acid, Y is a tyrosine residue that can be phosphorylated, S is the amino acid serine, I is the amino acid isoleucine, and V is the amino acid valine.[3] ITIMs recruit SH2 domain-containing phosphatases, which inhibit cellular activation. ITIM-containing receptors often serve to target immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-containing receptors, resulting in an innate inhibition mechanism within cells.[3] ITIM bearing receptors have important role in regulation of immune system allowing negative regulation at different levels of the immune response.[4]
A list of human candidate ITIM-containing proteins has been generated by proteome-wide scans.[5] It has included more than 135 proteins with ITIM motif. This list is reportedly expanded by studying rare human SNPs that create the consensus signature S/I/V/LxYxxI/V/L motif.[6]
Structure
ITIM motifs are defined as six amino acid signature with the consensus sequence S/I/V/LxYxxL/V, where x stands for any amino acid, Y for a tyrosine residue that can be phosphorylated and S, I, V for amino acids serine, isoleucine, and valine, respectively.[2] ITIM conserved sequence was first identified in the low affinity IgG receptor FcγRIIB.[7] All ITIM containing receptors are a part of the immunoglobulin superfamily.[3]
Signaling by ITIM
The main characteristic of ITIM-containing molecules is that they become tyrosyl-phopshorylated. In order to become phosphorylated, the inhibitory receptor has to be brought in close proximity to the kinase. This may be achieved by co-crosslinking with an ITAM motif of activating receptor that recruits a Src family kinase. ITIMs place phosphatases near ITAM-containing receptors, allowing phosphatases to dephosphorylate. This results in the deactivation of the signaling pathway of the ITAM-related receptor.[3] Ligand independent phosphorylation of ITIM-bearing molecules may also occur.[4]
Phosphorylated ITIM molecules then recruit SH2 domain-containing phosphatases. Four SH2 domain-containing phosphatases have been identified: the two lipid phosphatases SHIP1 and SHIP2 and the two protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) SHP-1 and SHP-2. The dephosphorylation of cell activation critical substrates results due to phosphorylated ITIM's serving as recruitment sites for SHP-1 and SHP-2.[8] The vast majority of ITIM-containing receptors were found to recruit either SHIPs or SHPs.[9] These phosphatases inhibit activation of molecules involved in cell signaling,[10] most commonly by binding to activating receptors including TCRs, BCRs and FcRs. Subsequently, phospholipase Cy and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PLCy and PI3-K) are activated, together leading to the production of phosphoinositol messengers and increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+.[11][12]
SHIP
Several ITIM-bearing receptors bind SHIP, including FcγRIIB. SHIP is a 5′ inositol phosphatase that is expressed in most hematopoietic cells. It plays an important regulatory role in the immune system. SHIP consists of an N-terminal SH2 domain, a catalytic domain and a C-terminal tail that contains two phosphorylation sites. There are several isoforms of SHIP and the expression of these isoforms differs among different cell types. In addition, another SHIP gene, SHIP-2, has been identified. SHIP-2 is also expressed in non-hematopoietic cells.
The binding of SHIP to ITIM-bearing receptors is mediated by the SH2 domain. There are several mechanisms by which SHIP can inhibit cell activation.[13] These can be divided into mechanisms that involve the catalytic activity of SHIP and mechanisms that involve interactions of other molecules with the C-terminal part of SHIP.
SHP
Many ITIM-bearing receptors recruit SHP-1 and/or SHP-2 including KIRs, ILT, Ly49, LAIR-1, CD22, CD72 and Signal Regulatory Protein SIRPα. SHP-1 and SHP-2 are structurally related protein tyrosine phosphatases but have different expression patterns and biological functions. SHP-1 is expressed in hematopoietic cells and at lower levels in epithelial cells. Like SHIP, SHP-1 is involved in the negative regulation of cell activation following a variety of stimuli such as growth factors, cytokines, integrin signaling and antigen receptor signaling.
SHP-2 is ubiquitously expressed and is considered a positive regulator of cytokine and growth factor receptor signaling. SHP-1 and SHP-2 consist of two SH-2 domains, a catalytic domain and a C-terminal tail. The N-terminal SH2 domain is involved in an auto-inhibitory mechanism, as removal of this domain activates the phosphatase.[4]
Recruitment of either SHIP or SHP-1 by ITIM-bearing receptors has different outcomes: recruitment of SHP-1 abrogates tyrosine phosphorylation of signaling molecules that would occur upon triggering of an ITAM-bearing receptor, while SHIP recruitment does not affect the initial phosphorylation, but interferes with the recruitment of downstream effectors to the site of cell activation.[14] ITIMs can also work in conjunction with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switch motifs (ITSM) in order to activate ITIM-bearing receptors such as SHP-2.[15]
Negative vs. positive signaling
Even if the most receptors containing ITIM are considered to have inhibitory effects on signaling pathways of immune response, the function of SIRPα, CD22 and also PECAM-1, which is expressed on immune cells and endothelium and is involved in many signaling pathways,[16] show that not all so called ITIM-bearing receptors can be considered to be inhibitory receptors. Several other proteins that are usually considered as stimulatory receptors contain ITIM-like sequences, e.g. IL-4.[17] In contrast, the activating NK cell receptor NKp44 contains an ITIM, but this seems to be non-functional.[18]
Inhibitory receptors bearing ITIM
Some of the important receptors bearing ITIM motifs are listed in the table below:
Receptor | Distribution | Number of ITIMs | Ligand | Associated phosphatases |
FcγRIIB | B, My, mast | 1 | IgG complex | SHIP-1, SHIP-2 |
CTLA-4 | T | - | CD80, CD86 | SHP-2 |
PD-1 | T, B, NK | 1 | PD-1 ligand | SHP-2 |
BTLA | T, B | 2 | HVEM | SHP-2 |
CD72 | B | 2 | CD100 | SHP-1 |
NKG2A | NK, CD8+T | 2 | HLA-E | SHP-1, SHP-2 |
CD31 | My, platelet, EC, T, NK | 1 | CD31 | SHP-1, SHP-2 |
SIGLEC family | Hm | 1-4 | Sialic acid | SHP-1, SHP-2 |
CD66 | Hm, EC | 2 | CD66 | SHP-1, SHP-2 |
ILTs/LIRs | My, B, NK, T | 2-4 | MHC I | SHP-1 |
My, myeloid; Hm, hematopoietic; NK, natural killer; EC, epithelial cells; DC, dendritic cells.
(Modified according to[19])
In immunotherapy
On the basis of the inhibitory effects of FcγRIIB, a lot of prototypic molecules was constructed and used for developing new therapeutic approaches of allergies. A genetically engineered molecule consisting of a human IgG1 Fc fragment fused to a human IgE Fc fragment was first reported to inhibit IgE-induced human mast cell and basophil activation.[19]
In selected human malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantations have shown that the development of donor NK cells in recipient patients lacking donor KIR ligands can lead to improved engraftment and post-transplant survival by boosting graft-versus-leukemia effect in the absence of graft-versus-host disease.[20]
References
- ↑ Dushek O, Goyette J, van der Merwe PA (November 2012). "Non-catalytic tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors". Immunological Reviews. 250 (1): 258–76. doi:10.1111/imr.12008. PMID 23046135. S2CID 1549902.
- 1 2 Veillette A, Latour S, Davidson D (2002-04-01). "Negative regulation of immunoreceptor signaling". Annual Review of Immunology. 20 (1): 669–707. doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.20.081501.130710. PMID 11861615.
- 1 2 3 4 Coxon CH, Geer MJ, Senis YA (June 2017). "ITIM receptors: more than just inhibitors of platelet activation". Blood. 129 (26): 3407–3418. doi:10.1182/blood-2016-12-720185. PMC 5562394. PMID 28465343.
- 1 2 3 Verbrugge A, Meyaard L (June 2005). "Signaling by ITIM-bearing receptors". Current Immunology Reviews. 1 (2): 201–12. doi:10.2174/1573395054065160.
- ↑ Staub E, Rosenthal A, Hinzmann B (April 2004). "Systematic identification of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs in the human proteome". Cellular Signalling. 16 (4): 435–56. doi:10.1016/j.cellsig.2003.08.013. PMID 14709333.
- ↑ Ulaganathan VK (May 2020). "TraPS-VarI: Identifying genetic variants altering phosphotyrosine based signalling motifs". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 8453. Bibcode:2020NatSR..10.8453U. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65146-2. PMC 7242328. PMID 32439998.
- ↑ Muta T, Kurosaki T, Misulovin Z, Sanchez M, Nussenzweig MC, Ravetch JV (March 1994). "A 13-amino-acid motif in the cytoplasmic domain of Fc gamma RIIB modulates B-cell receptor signalling". Nature. 368 (6466): 70–3. Bibcode:1994Natur.368...70M. doi:10.1038/368070a0. PMID 8107887. S2CID 4247412.
- ↑ McVicar DW, Burshtyn DN (March 2001). "Intracellular signaling by the killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and Ly49". Science's STKE. 2001 (75): re1. doi:10.1126/stke.2001.75.re1. PMID 11752646. S2CID 23176189.
- ↑ Daëron M, Jaeger S, Du Pasquier L, Vivier E (August 2008). "Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motifs: a quest in the past and future". Immunological Reviews. 224 (1): 11–43. doi:10.1111/j.1600-065X.2008.00666.x. PMID 18759918. S2CID 24902428.
- ↑ Barrow AD, Trowsdale J (July 2006). "You say ITAM and I say ITIM, let's call the whole thing off: the ambiguity of immunoreceptor signalling". European Journal of Immunology. 36 (7): 1646–53. doi:10.1002/eji.200636195. PMID 16783855. S2CID 39864617.
- ↑ Alberola-Ila J, Takaki S, Kerner JD, Perlmutter RM (1997-04-01). "Differential signaling by lymphocyte antigen receptors". Annual Review of Immunology. 15 (1): 125–54. doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.15.1.125. PMID 9143684.
- ↑ Weiss A, Littman DR (January 1994). "Signal transduction by lymphocyte antigen receptors". Cell. 76 (2): 263–74. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(94)90334-4. PMID 8293463. S2CID 13225245.
- ↑ March ME, Ravichandran K (February 2002). "Regulation of the immune response by SHIP". Seminars in Immunology. 14 (1): 37–47. doi:10.1006/smim.2001.0340. PMID 11884229.
- ↑ Scharenberg AM, Kinet JP (December 1996). "The emerging field of receptor-mediated inhibitory signaling: SHP or SHIP?". Cell. 87 (6): 961–4. doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81790-0. PMID 8978600. S2CID 6787917.
- ↑ Marasco M, Berteotti A, Weyershaeuser J, Thorausch N, Sikorska J, Krausze J, et al. (January 2020). "Molecular mechanism of SHP2 activation by PD-1 stimulation". Science Advances. 6 (5): eaay4458. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aay4458. PMC 6994217. PMID 32064351.
- ↑ Ilan N, Madri JA (October 2003). "PECAM-1: old friend, new partners". Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 15 (5): 515–24. doi:10.1016/S0955-0674(03)00100-5. PMID 14519385.
- ↑ Kashiwada M, Giallourakis CC, Pan PY, Rothman PB (December 2001). "Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif of the IL-4 receptor associates with SH2-containing phosphatases and regulates IL-4-induced proliferation". Journal of Immunology. 167 (11): 6382–7. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.167.11.6382. PMID 11714803. S2CID 1820706.
- ↑ Campbell KS, Yusa S, Kikuchi-Maki A, Catina TL (January 2004). "NKp44 triggers NK cell activation through DAP12 association that is not influenced by a putative cytoplasmic inhibitory sequence". Journal of Immunology. 172 (2): 899–906. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.172.2.899. PMID 14707061. S2CID 8440407.
- 1 2 Zeng C, Wu T, Zhen Y, Xia XP, Zhao Y (December 2005). "BTLA, a new inhibitory B7 family receptor with a TNFR family ligand" (PDF). Cellular & Molecular Immunology. 2 (6): 427–32. PMID 16426492.
- ↑ Nishimura H, Nose M, Hiai H, Minato N, Honjo T (August 1999). "Development of lupus-like autoimmune diseases by disruption of the PD-1 gene encoding an ITIM motif-carrying immunoreceptor". Immunity. 11 (2): 141–51. doi:10.1016/s1074-7613(00)80089-8. PMID 10485649.