Selective inhibition of T cell activation via CD147 through novel modulation of lipid rafts

The plasma membrane is compartmentalized into microdomains and the association/dissociation of receptors and signaling molecules with/from these membrane domains is a major principle for regulation of signal transduction. By following the reorganization of microdomains on living cells and performing biochemical studies, we show that Ab targeting of the T cell activation-associated Ag CD147 prevents TCR stimulation-dependent reorganization and clustering of microdomains. Triggering CD147 induces a displacement of the GPI-anchored coreceptors CD48 and CD59 from microdomains in human T lymphocytes. This perturbation of microdomains is accompanied by a selective inhibition of TCR-mediated T cell proliferation. The CD147-inhibited cells secret normal levels of IL-2 but acquire reduced amounts of the IL-2 receptor alpha-chain CD25. These results indicate that negative regulating signals can modulate microdomains and suggest a general mechanism for inhibition of receptor signaling.