Spatial and Temporal Control of T Cell Activation Using a Photoactivatable Agonist

Summary

This protocol describes an imaging-based method to activate T lymphocytes using photoactivatable peptide-MHC, enabling precise spatiotemporal control of T cell activation.

Abstract

T lymphocytes engage in rapid, polarized signaling, occurring within minutes following TCR activation. This induces formation of the immunological synapse, a stereotyped cell-cell junction that regulates T cell activation and directionally targets effector responses. To study these processes effectively, an imaging approach that is tailored to capturing fast, polarized responses is necessary. This protocol describes such a system, which is based on a photoactivatable peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) that is non-stimulatory until it is exposed to ultraviolet light. Targeted decaging of this reagent during videomicroscopy experiments enables precise spatiotemporal control of TCR activation and high-resolution monitoring of subsequent cellular responses by total internal reflection (TIRF) imaging. This approach is also compatible with genetic and pharmacological perturbation strategies. This allows for the assembly of well-defined molecular pathways that link TCR signaling to the formation of the polarized cytoskeletal structures that underlie the immunological synapse.

Introduction

T lymphocytes (T cells) play a central role in cellular immunity by recognizing antigenic peptides displayed in the context of cell surface MHC. Antigen recognition, which is mediated by the TCR, drives the differentiation of naïve T cells and promotes the delivery of cytolytic and communicative responses by effector populations. TCR engagement also induces dramatic changes in cellular architecture. Within minutes, the T cells gloms onto the side of the antigen-presenting cell (APC), forming a polarized interface known as the immunological synapse (IS)^1,2. The IS potentiates T cell effector responses by e....

Protocol

1. Preparation of Stimulatory Glass Surfaces

1. Coat eight-well chambered coverglass with biotinylated poly-L-lysine (Bio-PLL) diluted 1:500 in distilled, deionized water (ddH₂O). Incubate for 30 min at room temperature (RT).
2. Wash with H₂O.
3. Dry for 2 h at RT.
4. Block Bio-PLL coated surfaces with blocking buffer (HEPES-buffered saline [10 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl], with 2% BSA) for 30 min at RT.
   1. Dissolve 5 mg of poly-L-lysine hydrobromide in 1 mL of 10 mM NaPO₄, pH 8.5.
   2. Add 125 μmol (0.55 mg) of NHS-biotin (from a 100 mg/mL stock in DMSO) and check the pH of the reacti....

Results

The photoactivation and imaging approach allows for observation and facile quantification of rapid, polarized signaling responses. To illustrate its capabilities, reproduced here is an experiment examining the spatiotemporal correlation between TCR-induced DAG accumulation and centrosome reorientation. 5C.C7 T cell blasts were retrovirally transduced with two fluorescent reporters: a DAG biosensor containing the tandem C1 domains from protein kinase C-θ linked to GFP (C1-GFP) and RFP-tubu.......

Discussion

In recent years, light has emerged as an excellent tool for spatiotemporally controlled activation of cellular processes. Various methodologies have been developed, each with associated advantages and disadvantages. The system described here, which is based on the decaging of immobilized, extracellular ligands, is ideally suited for the analysis of rapid, subcellular, polarized signaling responses. This approach has been applied to examine IS formation in T cells as described above. Additionally, caged ligands for other .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Nunc Lab-Tek Chambered Coverglass	Thermofischer Scientific	155361
Poly-L-lysine hydrobromide	Sigma-Aldrich	P2636	Will need to make Biotinylated Poly-L-Lysine
EZ-Link NHS-Biotin	Thermofischer Scientific	20217	Will need to make Biotinylated Poly-L-Lysine
Streptavidin	Thermofischer Scientific	434301
BirA-500: BirA biotin-protein ligase standard reaction kit	Avidity	BirA500	Will be used to biotinylate proteins
Biotinylated Hb I-EK			For protein folding, see reference 6. For biotinylation, use BirA kit
Biotinylated NPE-MCC I-EK	Anaspec		Custom NPE-MCC (H-ANERADLIAYL-K(Nvoc)-QATK-OH) can be purchased from Anaspec
Biotinylated αH2-Kk antibody	BD Biosciences	553591
Biotinylated NPE-OVA H2-Kb	Anaspec		Custom NPE-OVA (H-SIINFE-K(Nvoc)-L-OH) can be purchased from Anaspec
Biotinylated KAVY H2-Db	Anaspec		Custom synthesized protein (KAVYDFATL) can be purchased from Anaspec
Biotinylated ICAM1			For protein folding, see reference in protocol. For biotinylation, use BirA kit
Hand held UV lamp	UVP	UVGL-25	Lamp is held < 1 cm from the sample.  30 s of 365 light is sufficient for detectable decaging, 20 min for quantitative decaging.
Olympus IX-81 OMAC TIRF system.	Olympus		Additional information about the imaging system can be found in Figure 6
Mosaic digital diaphragm	Andor
Slidebook software	Intelligent Imaging Innovations