Stimulation of CD4(+) helper T lymphocytes by antigen-presenting cells requires the degradation of exogenous antigens into antigenic peptides which associate with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules in endosomal or lysosomal compartments. B lymphocytes mediate efficient antigen presentation first by capturing soluble antigens through clonally distributed antigen receptors (BCRs), composed of membrane immunoglobulin (Ig) associated with Ig-alpha/Ig-beta heterodimers which, second, target antigens to MHC class II-containing compartments. We report that antigen internalization and antigen targeting through the BCR or its Ig-alpha-associated subunit to newly synthesized class II lead to the presentation of a large spectrum of T cell epitopes, including some cryptic T cell epitopes. To further characterize the intracellular mechanisms of BCR-mediated antigen presentation, we used two complementary experimental approaches: mutational analysis of the Ig-alpha cytoplasmic tail, and overexpression in B cells of dominant negative syk mutants. Thus, we found that the syk tyrosine kinase, an effector of the BCR signal transduction pathway, is involved in the presentation of peptide- MHC class II complexes through antigen targeting by BCR subunits.

Vav is a hematopoietic cell-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) whose activation is mediated by receptor engagement. The relationship of Vav localization to its function is presently unclear. We found that Vav redistributes to the plasma membrane in response to Fcin receptor I (FcinRI) engagement. The redistribution of Vav was mediated by its Src homology 2 (SH2) domain and required Syk activity. The FcinRI and Vav were found to colocalize and were recruited to glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains (GEMs). The scaffold protein, linker for activation of T cells (LAT), and Rac1 (a target of Vav activity) were constitutively present in GEMs. Expression of an SH2 domain-containing COOH-terminal fragment of Vav inhibited Vav phosphorylation and movement to the GEMs but had no effect on the tyrosine phosphorylation of the adaptor protein, SLP-76 (SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kD), and LAT. However, assembly of the multiprotein complex containing these proteins was inhibited. In addition, FcinRI-dependent activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) was also inhibited. Thus, Vav localization to the plasma membrane is mediated by its SH2 domain and may serve to regulate downstream effectors like JNK1.