CDB20:0002954 TNFRSF14 — BTLA

ABSTRACT: Immune cell cosignaling receptors are important modulators of immune cell function. For T cells, cosignaling receptors supply necessary secondary signals supporting activation or attenuation after engagement of antigen-presenting cells. The primary cosignaling receptors belong to either the Ig (CD28-like) or TNF receptor (TNFR) superfamilies. The CD28 family is comprised of coinhibitory and costimulatory receptors. The three coinhibitory receptors are cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4, programmed death-1, and B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA). Although cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 and programmed death-1 interact with B7-Ig family counter receptors, the ligand for BTLA is less clear. From a protein-protein interaction screen, we identified the TNFR family member herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) as a counter receptor for BTLA. Here we show that HVEM binds BTLA with high affinity and can form a ternary complex with its known ligands homologous to lymphotoxin, showing inducible expression, and competing with herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D for HVEM, a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes (LIGHT) or lymphotoxin alpha and BTLA. In addition, binding of HVEM to BTLA attenuates T cell activation, identifying HVEM/BTLA as a coinhibitory receptor pair. This study is a demonstration of a direct interaction between the primary T cell cosignaling receptors of the CD28 and TNFR families.

ABSTRACT: HVEM is a TNF (tumor necrosis factor) receptor contributing to a broad range of immune functions involving diverse cell types. It interacts with a TNF ligand, LIGHT, and immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily members BTLA and CD160. Assessing the functional impact of HVEM binding to specific ligands in different settings has been complicated by the multiple interactions of HVEM and HVEM binding partners. To dissect the molecular basis for multiple functions, we determined crystal structures that reveal the distinct HVEM surfaces that engage LIGHT or BTLA/CD160, including the human HVEM-LIGHT-CD160 ternary complex, with HVEM interacting simultaneously with both binding partners. Based on these structures, we generated mouse HVEM mutants that selectively recognized either the TNF or Ig ligands in vitro. Knockin mice expressing these muteins maintain expression of all the proteins in the HVEM network, yet they demonstrate selective functions for LIGHT in the clearance of bacteria in the intestine and for the Ig ligands in the amelioration of liver inflammation.