Abstract
T lymphocyte activation requires signal 1 from the TCR and signal 2 from costimulatory receptors. For long-lasting immunity, growth and survival signals imparted through the Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) pathway in activated or effector T cells are important, and these can be strongly influenced by signaling from OX40 (CD134), a member of the TNFR superfamily. In the absence of OX40, T cells do not expand efficiently to Ag, and memory formation is impaired. How most costimulatory receptors integrate their signals with those from Ag through the TCR is not clear, including whether OX40 directly recruits PKB or molecules that regulate PKB. We show that OX40 after ligation by OX40L assembled a signaling complex that contained the adapter TNFR-associated factor 2 as well as PKB and its upstream activator phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Recruitment of PKB and PI3K were dependent on TNFR-associated factor 2 and on translocation of OX40 into detergent-insoluble membrane lipid microdomains but independent of TCR engagement. However, OX40 only resulted in strong phosphorylation and functional activation of the PI3K-PKB pathway when Ag was recognized. Therefore, OX40 primarily functions to augment PKB signaling in T cells by enhancing the amount of PI3K and PKB available to the TCR. This highlights a quantitative role of this TNFR family second signal to supplement signal 1.