Regulation of TNF and SFK signalling in immune cells by TCPTP

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Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in immunity and inflammation. TNF acts on the cell surface to activate two key cellular communication or signalling pathways: the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) pathway. The relative activation of the two pathways can dictate whether cells live and proliferate or differentiate or otherwise die in response to TNF, and therefore determine the nature of the immune or inflammatory response. The T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) is known to be important in the immune system and serves as a negative regulator of inflammation. Our preliminary studies have identified TCPTP as a selective regulator of TNF-induced MAPK but not NFkappaB signaling. TCPTP exerts its effects by inactivating Src family kinases (SFK) which are themselves integral to immune and inflammatory responses. In this proposal we will elucidate the molecular basis for TCPTP function in TNF- signalling and characterise the role of TCPTP in TNF and SFK functions in immune cells, in particular T-cells.