Role of Protein Glycosylation in Immune Regulation Ann Rheum Dis: First Published As 10.1136/Ard.52.Suppl 1.S22 on 1 March 1993
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S22 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 1993; 52: S22-S29 Role of protein glycosylation in immune regulation Ann Rheum Dis: first published as 10.1136/ard.52.Suppl_1.S22 on 1 March 1993. Downloaded from Elizabeth F Hounsell, Michael J Davies Most cell surface and secreted proteins are those of the outer branches of N-linked glycosylated - that is, they have one or more glycosylation (although there are differences). oligosaccharide chains covalently attached to In both chains the diversity of oligosaccharide specific amino acids. These oligosaccharides sequences is manifest in the large number of usually make up a significant amount of the ways the monosaccharides can be linked hydrodynamic mass of the molecules and also together (that is, through 1-4 hydroxyl groups, have effects on protein conformation, surface with and without branching, in (x or 3 expression, stability, circulating half life, configuration, etc). Each linkage has a activity, and antigenicity. In addition, oligo- particular set of allowed conformations in saccharide sequences are themselves solution which provide specific orientations of recognised as antigens and as ligands for functional groups for molecular recognition. carbohydrate binding proteins (lectins). The Such epitopes usually extend over a tri- to immune system exemplifies the diversity of heptasaccharide sequence, but topographical oligosaccharide structure and function, which epitopes caused by folding back of long this review will aim to communicate. In carbohydrate chains onto themselves or onto particular, the relevance of oligosaccharide protein are possible. In addition, the oligo- heterogeneity, antigenicity, and immune saccharide cores of 0-linked chains are in close regulatory activity in autoimmunity and association with the protein backbone, which microbial pathogenesis will be considered. strongly influences protein conformation and Firstly, a general description of the structure oligosaccharide-protein antigenicity.' Often and three dimensional arrangement of protein multiple 0-glycosylation sites are clustered in glycosylation will be given. Then, we describe one region of the protein to accentuate these the structure of the major glycoprotein effector conformational effects (for example, CD8 molecules involved in immune regulation and discussed below). concentrate on the role of T cell -y 8 cells in N-linked chains are in general less tuberculosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). stereochemically restricted around the protein- oligosaccharide linkage than their 0-linked General description ofprotein counterparts, and, in addition, have glycosylation (also see Glossary) considerable flexibility at branch points within http://ard.bmj.com/ Protein glycosylation is of two major types the chain. The oligosaccharide moieties, called N- or 0-linked depending on the linkage therefore, sample a large amount of of the oligosaccharide chain through conformational space, but in some cases they asparagine (NH2) or serine/threonine (OH), may be restrained by interaction with the respectively. N-linked chains typically have a protein backbone or adjacent oligosaccharides pentasaccharide core of mannose (Man) and attached to the same protein. The paradigm for N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues with protein-to-N-glycosylation interaction is the on October 1, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. additional mannose residues (high mannose Fc region of IgG where electron density for chains) or backbone galactose-N-acetyl- oligosaccharides has been shown by x ray glucosamine sequences with and without chain crystallography which can be interpreted as terminating sialic acid residues (complex constraints by the protein to impose a single chains). Hybrid chains are defined as those conformational state.' In other glycoproteins having some high mannose branches and some that have been characterised by x ray complex-type sequences. The core and crystallography the oligosaccharide conform- backbone residues of complex chains are ation could not be discerned at high resolution variously decorated with blood group and - for example, studies of the major histocom- related antigenic sequences involving substitu- patibility complex (MHC) glycoprotein tion with fucose, (Fuc), N-acetylgalactosamine molecule HLA-A2.6 For still further (GalNAc), and galactose (Gal).' 2 The glycoproteins, crystals of sufficiently high presence of the different chains can be quality for x ray crystallography are not formed distinguished not only by chemical unless some of the glycosylation is modified. composition but also by their susceptibility to This can be for the reasons already mentioned enzyme digestion - all are released by peptide- - that is, large hydrodynamic volume (in N-glycosidase F, whereas endoglycosidase H particular when multiple glycosylation is Clinical Research only releases mannose chains. present); effects on protein conformation; or, Centre, Watford Road, high Harrow, Middlesex 0-linked glycosylation discussed in this inherent oligosaccharide flexibility. An HAl 3UJ, United article is characterised by core regions based on additional factor, discussed next, is the Kingdom N-acetylgalactosamine linked to protein, with microheterogeneity of oligosaccharide struc- E F Hounsell M J Davies galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, or N-acetyl- ture at each glycosylation site within a protein. attached. Extension of the Because of the difficulties of their visualisation Correspondence to: galactosamine 1- Dr Hounsell. chains is by substitution patterns similar to by x ray studies the characterisation of protein Role ofprotein glycosylation in immune regulation S23 glycosylation has largely relied on enzymatic, further glycosylation patterns found in, for gel, and chromatographic methods of analysis example, parasite and mammalian glycophos- Ann Rheum Dis: first published as 10.1136/ard.52.Suppl_1.S22 on 1 March 1993. Downloaded from with, when possible, high resolution physi- phatidylinositol lipid anchors'4 and bacterial cochemical techniques (in particular, mass glycoconjugates, including cell wall peptido- spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance glycans, capsular polysaccharides, and spectroscopy).24 7 0-antigen-type specific lipopolysaccha- rides.'5 16 These molecules are highly antigenic, but in the case of lipopoly- Microheterogeneity of oligosaccharide saccharides and peptidoglycan are more likely sequences of glycoproteins to exert their arthritogenic affect by mechan- All glycoproteins exhibit heterogeneity such isms involving direct mitogenicity.'5 The that they exist as a population having a mammalian proteoglycans are an additional spectrum of oligosaccharide sequences (glyco- type of glycosylation which needs to be forms). Variation occurs in the number and discussed in this context. One of the initial length of branches (or antennae) leading from responses in the rheumatoid joint is breakdown the cores, together with alterations in sequence of the proteoglycans which, together with and peripheral substitutions. Of relevance to collagen, make up cartilage. Hyperimmun- the present article is the documentation of the isation with host proteoglycans will lead to glycoforms of IgG where a large number of experimental arthritis. ' Proteoglycans are different biantennary N-linked chains were classically very high molecular weight found, including some having short chains molecules of different uronic acid-hexosamine exposing GlcNAcp residues to which Gal repeating disaccharide sequences having residues and additional substitutions are multiple variable sulphation.'8 Relatively short normally linked.8 The presence ofthese chains, regions of proteoglycan sequences, however, termed Galo is suggested to be a marker of RA can also be found on membrane-type that may be functional by reducing the glycoproteins - for example, the invariant intramolecular oligosaccharide-to-protein chain of class II MHC'9 and lymphocyte interaction discussed above or by effecting antigen CD44.2" Therefore besides direct binding to GlcNAc, specific endogenous damage to the joint, the enzymes induced in lectins, or both. This binding would have to be arthritis which degrade proteoglycans may also specific to the GlcNAcP1-6/4/2Man sequence directly affect T cell function. Proteoglycans as GlcNAc, 1-3Gal and GlcNAccx1-4Gal are are also common constituents of secretory found quite commonly as chain terminating granules of a variety of haemopoietic cells.2' In groups in mucms.- mast cells evidence is accumulating for their The studies quoted in reference 8 were function during degranulation in controlling carried out on IgG pooled from human serum. the release of mast cell proteases,22 which are From other studies it is known that the mediators of allergic inflammatory glycoproteins from single donors can also show reactions. In addition, proteoglycans at considerable heterogeneity - for example, endothelial cell membranes are necessary for http://ard.bmj.com/ more than 250 different glycoforms from the an intact microvasculature, the breakdown of Tamm-Horsfall proteins of the urine of one which is an essential component of the donor.9 There is also considerable variation in rheumatoid process.23 cell-cell glycosylation - for example, in Other glycoproteins are being increasingly glycoproteins from single cell lines.'0 The implicated in the inflammatory process - in structural changes in IgG are also mirrored in particular, the recruiting ofneutrophils to areas cell studies from patients with RA" or from the of endothelial cell damage. Studies