Elucidation of the integrin LFA-1–mediated signaling pathway of actin polarization in natural killer cells

Abstract

Abstract The leukocyte integrin LFA-1 is critical for natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity as it mediates NK-cell adhesion to target cells and generates activating signals that lead to polarization of the actin cytoskeleton. However, the LFA-1–mediated signaling pathway is not fully understood. Here, we examined the subcellular localization of actin-associated proteins in wild-type, talin-deficient, and Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP)–deficient NK cells bound to beads coated with the LFA-1 ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). In addition, we carried out coimmunoprecipitation analyses and also used a pharmacologic reagent to reduce the level of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). The results revealed the following signaling pathways. Upon ICAM-1 binding to LFA-1, talin redistributes to the site of LFA-1 ligation and initiates 2 signaling pathways. First, talin recruits the actin nucleating protein complex Arp2/3 via constitutive association of vinculin with talin and Arp2/3. Second, talin also associates with type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPKI) and binding of LFA-1 to ICAM-1 results in localized increase in PIP2. This increase in PIP2 recruits WASP to the site of LFA-1 ligation where WASP promotes Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization. These processes are critical for the initiation of NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity.