Glucocorticoid-mediated regulation of protein phosphorylation in primary human T cells. Evidence for induction of phosphatase activity

Glucocorticoid hormones (GC) have profound effects on the development and homeostasis of the immune system. In this communication we present evidence that GC regulate Ca(2+)-mediated pathways of T cell activation by a mechanism that involves abrogation of the autophosphorylation of the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin kinase (CaM kinase II) and induction of protein phosphatase activity. Primary human T cells were stimulated with the combination of ionomycin and phorbol ester in the presence or absence of dexamethasone (Dex) (10(-6)-10(-12) M). Stimulation of T cells resulted in a rapid activation of CaM kinase II and protein kinase C (PKC) activity as determined by the phosphorylation of synthetic peptide substrates recognized by these enzymes. Dex inhibited the activity of CaM kinase II but not PKC activity in a dose-dependent fashion (minimum effective dose 10(-10) M). Stimulation of 32P-labeled T cells induced a rapid increase in the phosphorylation level of CaM kinase II which was inhibited by Dex. The inhibitory effect of Dex on this enzyme was fully reversed in the presence of the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (250 nM) or RU 486, a glucocorticoid antagonist. These results suggest that GC inhibit the activation of CaM kinase during T cell activation through a mechanism that involves both the GC receptor and protein phosphatases 2A and/or 1. Inhibition of protein phosphorylation through the induction of protein phosphatase activity may represent a novel mechanism for the diverse effects of GC on eukaryotic cells.