CTLA-4 up-regulation of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 adhesion and clustering as an alternate basis for coreceptor function

Although cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) negatively regulates T cell activation, the full range of functions mediated by this coreceptor has yet to be established. In this study, we report the surprising finding that CTLA-4 engagement by soluble antibody or CD80 potently up-regulates lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and receptor clustering concurrent with IL-2 inhibition. This effect was also observed with CTLA-4 ligation and not with other coreceptors. T cell antigen receptor (TcR)-induced lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 function was also dependent on CTLA-4 expression as observed with reduced adhesion/clustering on CTLA-4(-/-) primary T cells. CTLA-4 up-regulated adhesion was mediated by regulator for cell adhesion and polarization type 1 (Rap-1) as shown by anti-CTLA-4-induced Rap-1 activation as well as Rap-1-N17 blockade and Rap-1-V12 mimicry of adhesion/clustering. Our findings identify a potent role for CTLA-4 in directing integrin adhesion and provide an alternate mechanism to account for aspects of CTLA-4 function in T cell immunity.