Mathijs Baens

T cell antigen receptor stimulation induces MALT1 paracaspase - Mediated cleavage of the NF-κB inhibitor A20

The paracaspase MALT1 mediates T cell antigen receptor–induced signaling to the transcription factor NF-κB and is indispensable for T cell activation and proliferation. Enhanced expression of MALT1 or aberrant expression of a fusion protein of the apoptosis inhibitor API2 and MALT1 has been linked to mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Despite the presence of a caspase-like domain, MALT1 proteolytic activity has not yet been demonstrated. Here we show that T cell antigen receptor stimulation induced recruitment of the NF-κB inhibitor A20 into a complex of MALT1 and the adaptor protein Bcl-10, leading to MALT1-mediated processing of A20. API2-MALT1 expression likewise resulted in cleavage of A20. MALT1 cleaved human A20 after arginine 439 and impaired its NF-κB-inhibitory function. Our studies identify A20 as a substrate of MALT1 and emphasize the importance of MALT1 proteolytic activity in the fine tuning of T cell antigen receptor signaling.

The Product of the t(11;18), an API2-MLT Fusion, Marks Nearly Half of Gastric MALT Type Lymphomas without Large Cell Proliferation

Recently we demonstrated that the t(11;18)(q21;q21) associated with extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphomas of MALT type results in the expression of a chimeric transcript fusing 5 API2 on chromosome 11 to 3 MLT on chromosome 18. Here we report the development of an RT-PCR approach for the detection of the API2-MLT fusion transcript and its application for the analysis of 58 cases of gastric lymphoma. Initially nested PCR amplification was combined with Southern analysis using internal API2 and MLT probes. A genuine API2-MLT fusion transcript of variable length was demonstrated in 11 out of 58 cases. Sequence analysis revealed that in all cases the breakpoint on chromosome 11 occurred between exons 7 and 8 of the API2 gene. In contrast, the breakpoints on chromosome 18 appeared to be heterogeneous as fusions to bp 814, 1123, and 1150, respectively, of MLT were observed. These observations allowed us to work out a highly sensitive diagnostic test for the API2-MLT fusion on an ABI Prism 7700 sequence detector that confirmed the results of our initial approach. The API2-MLT fusion was found in 48% of gastric marginal zone cell lymphomas of MALT type that did not contain a large cell component and it was lacking in all other lymphomas of the stomach.

A20 Negatively Regulates T Cell Receptor Signaling to NF-κB by Cleaving Malt1 Ubiquitin Chains

The Carma1-Bcl10-Malt1 signaling module bridges TCR signaling to the canonical IκB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB pathway. Covalent attachment of regulatory ubiquitin chains to Malt1 paracaspase directs TCR signaling to IKK activation. Further, the ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 was recently suggested to suppress T cell activation, but molecular targets for A20 remain elusive. In this paper, we show that A20 regulates the strength and duration of the IKK/NF-κB response upon TCR/CD28 costimulation. By catalyzing the removal of K63-linked ubiquitin chains from Malt1, A20 prevents sustained interaction between ubiquitinated Malt1 and the IKK complex and thus serves as a negative regulator of inducible IKK activity. Upon T cell stimulation, A20 is rapidly removed and paracaspase activity of Malt1 has been suggested to cleave A20. Using antagonistic peptides or reconstitution of Malt1−/− T cells, we show that Malt1 paracaspase activity is required for A20 cleavage and optimal IL-2 production, but dispensable for initial IKK/NF-κB signaling in CD4+ T cells. However, proteasomal inhibition impairs A20 degradation and impedes TCR/CD28-induced IKK activation. Taken together, A20 functions as a Malt1 deubiquitinating enzyme and proteasomal degradation and de novo synthesis of A20 contributes to balance TCR/CD28-induced IKK/NF-κB signaling.

The dark side of EGFP: defective polyubiquitination.

Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) is the most commonly used live cell reporter despite a number of conflicting reports that it can affect cell physiology. Thus far, the precise mechanism of GFP-associated defects remained unclear. Here we demonstrate that EGFP and EGFP fusion proteins inhibit polyubiquitination, a posttranslational modification that controls a wide variety of cellular processes, like activation of kinase signalling or protein degradation by the proteasome. As a consequence, the NF-κB and JNK signalling pathways are less responsive to activation, and the stability of the p53 tumour suppressor is enhanced in cell lines and in vivo. In view of the emerging role of polyubiquitination in the regulation of numerous cellular processes, the use of EGFP as a live cell reporter should be carefully considered.

The pathogenesis of MALT lymphomas: where do we stand?

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a heterogeneous form of a B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma with extranodal location. The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site of disease, but involvement of multiple other organ systems has been documented. Four translocations, t(11;18)(q21;q21), t(1;14)(p22;q32), t(14;18)(q32;q21) and t(3;14)(p13;q32), are specifically associated with MALT lymphoma. Remarkably, the genes targeted by at least three of these translocations are involved in one and the same pathway, leading to the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). This review presents MALT lymphoma as a model of how sustained inflammation increases the risk of genotoxic insults and how these genetic events initiate oncogenesis.

cIAP2 is a ubiquitin protein ligase for BCL10 and is dysregulated in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas.

The pathogenesis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas is associated with independent chromosomal translocations that lead to the upregulation of either BCL10 or MALT1 or the generation of a fusion protein, cIAP2-MALT1. While both BCL10 and MALT1 are critically involved in antigen receptor-mediated NF-kappaB activation, the role of cIAP2 is not clear. Here we show that cIAP2 is a ubiquitin ligase (E3) of BCL10 and targets it for degradation, inhibiting antigen receptor-mediated cytokine production. cIAP2-MALT1 lacks E3 activity, and concomitantly, the BCL10 protein is stabilized in MALT lymphomas harboring this fusion. Furthermore, BCL10 and cIAP2-MALT1 synergistically activate NF-kappaB. These results reveal cIAP2 as an inhibitor of antigenic signaling and implicate its dysfunction in MALT lymphomas.

Selective expansion of marginal zone B cells in Emicro-API2-MALT1 mice is linked to enhanced IkappaB kinase gamma polyubiquitination

The translocation t(11;18)(q21;q21) that generates an API2-MALT1 fusion protein is the most common structural abnormality among the genetic defects reported in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphomas, and its presence correlates with the apparent lack of further genetic instability or chromosomal imbalances. Hence, constitutive nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation induced by the API2-MALT1 fusion protein is considered essential for B-cell transformation. To examine its role in B-cell development and lymphomagenesis, Eμ-API2-MALT1 transgenic mice were produced. Our data show that expression of the API2-MALT1 fusion protein alone is not sufficient for the development of lymphoma masses within 50 weeks. Nevertheless, API2-MALT1 expression affected B-cell maturation in the bone marrow and triggered the specific expansion of splenic marginal zone B cells. Polyubiquitination of IκB kinase γ (IKKγ), indicative for enhanced NF-κB activation, was increased in splenic lymphocytes and promoted the survival of B cells ex vivo . In addition, we show that the API2-MALT1 fusion resided in the cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched membrane microdomains, termed lipid rafts. We provide evidence that association of the MALT1 COOH terminal with the lipid rafts, which is mediated by the API2 portion, is sufficient to trigger NF-κB activation via enhanced polyubiquitination of IKKγ. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that the API2-MALT1 fusion protein can contribute to MALT lymphoma formation via increased NF-κB activation. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(10): 5270-7)

A Novel TRAF6 Binding Site in MALT1 Defines Distinct Mechanisms of NF-B Activation by API2MALT1 Fusions *

The recurrent translocation t(11;18)(q21;q21) associated with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma results in the expression of an API2·MALT1 fusion protein that constitutively activates NF-κB. The first baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) domain of API2 and the C terminus of MALT1, which contains its caspase-like domain, are present in all reported fusion variants and interact with TRAF2 and TRAF6, respectively, suggesting their contribution to NF-κB signaling by API2·MALT1. Also, the involvement of BCL10 has been suggested via binding to BIR1 of API2 and via its interaction with the immunoglobulin domains of MALT1, present in half of the fusion variants. However, conflicting reports exist concerning their roles in API2·MALT1-induced NF-κB signaling. In this report, streptavidin pulldowns of biotinylated API2·MALT1 fusion variants showed that none of the fusion variants interacted with endogenous BCL10; its role in NF-κB signaling by API2·MALT1 was further questioned by RNA interference experiments. In contrast, TRAF6 was essential for NF-κB activation by all fusion variants, and we identified a novel TRAF6 binding site in the second immunoglobulin domain of MALT1, which enhanced NF-κB activation when present in the fusion protein. Furthermore, inclusion of both immunoglobulin domains in API2·MALT1 further enhanced NF-κB signaling via intramolecular TRAF6 activation. Finally, binding of TRAF2 to BIR1 contributed to NF-κB activation by API2·MALT1, although additional mechanisms involving BIR1-mediated raft association are also important. Taken together, these data reveal distinct mechanisms of NF-κB activation by the different API2·MALT1 fusion variants with an essential role for TRAF6.

Structure of the MLT gene and molecular characterization of the genomic breakpoint junctions in the t(11;18)(q21;q21) of marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of MALT type.

The t(11;18)(q21;q21) between the inhibitor of apoptosis API2 and the MLT gene is a distinct feature of marginal zone B‐cell lymphomas of MALT‐type. Hitherto the chimeric API2‐MLT transcripts are all “in‐frame” and predominantly fuse exon 7 of API2 to different MLT exons. Recurrent chromosomal translocations are common in lymphoid neoplasms and might represent by‐products of the rearrangement processes generating antigen receptor diversity. The genomic structure of the MLT gene was determined to facilitate amplification of the genomic breakpoint junctions from 5 MALT‐type lymphomas with t(11;18). Their sequence analysis showed scattering of the chromosome 11 breakpoints in intron 7 of API2 whereas rearrangements in MLT occurred in intron 2, 4, 7, or 8, respectively. Sequences around the junctions did not display recognition signal sequences mediating lymphocytic V(D)J recombination or other sequence motifs associated with recombination. The breakpoints occurred in a copy of an AluSx repeat in three cases, but interchromosomal Alu‐mediated homologous recombination could be ruled out as the repeat resided only on one of the participating chromosomes. The t(11;18) was associated with a deletion in 4 out of 5 cases, ranging in size from 53 bp up to more than 200 kb. These deletions were observed on one or sometimes both derivative chromosomes that might indicate the susceptibility of these regions for breakage. Our data suggest that the API2‐MLT fusion might result from a non‐homologous end joining event after multiple double‐strand breaks. The clustering of breaks in intron 7 of API2 and the consistent “in frame” API2‐MLT fusions could therefore reflect certain functional constraints crucial for clonal outgrowth.

The product of the t(ll;18), an API2-MLT fusion, is an almost exclusive finding in marginal zone cell lymphoma of extranodal MALT-type

BACKGROUNDnExtranodal marginal zone cell lymphoma (MZCL) of MALT-type share similar features with nodal and splenic MZCL regarding morphology and immunophenotype. At the genetic level, recent cytogenetic studies have shown that t(11;18) is a recurring abnormality in extranodal MALT-type MZCL but has hitherto never been reported in nodal or splenic MZCL. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of t(11;18) in a large series of nodal, splenic and extranodal MALT-type MZCL, using a sensitive real-time RT-PCR method.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnNinety-three MZCL cases were divided on clinical grounds into 61 extranodal MALT-type, 19 splenic and 12 nodal MZCL. One case that presented with a massive splenomegaly but for which also gastro-intestinal localisations were found, was left unclassified. A real-time RT-PCR method for the detection of the API2-MLT fusion resulting from t(11;18) was performed on RNA extracted from frozen tissue sections.nnnRESULTSnThe API2-MLT fusion was detected in 12 cases, which were all extranodal MALT-type lymphomas of the stomach, except for one case. The remaining positive case was the unclassified case, for which the translocation was detected in the spleen and in hilar lymph node tissue.nnnCONCLUSIONSnWhile similarities between MZCL from different anatomic sites have lend us to propose that all MZCL have a common normal counterpart, the almost exclusive detection of t(11;18) in gastric MALT-type lymphoma favours its recognition as a separate lymphoma entity. The absence of the translocation in nodal and splenic MZCL challenges the idea of these lymphomas being secondary to MALT-type lymphomas of the gut. The unclassified case illustrates the inadequate approaches available at present to identify and define the various MZCL.