FcγRI ligation leads to a complex with BLT1 in lipid rafts that enhances rat lung macrophage antimicrobial functions

Macrophages play a central role in antimicrobial immunity via their capacities for recognition, phagocytosis, and killing of opsonized and nonopsonized microbes. Nowhere are these functions more vigorously tested than in the lung, which comprises the largest internal interface with the outside environment and which is continuously exposed to microbes delivered via inhalation or oropharyngeal aspiration.¹  Particles opsonized by immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies bind to receptors recognizing the Fc portion of IgG (Fcγ receptor [FcγR]).²  There are 3 general classes of FcγR (FcγRI, II, and III) that vary in their molecular structure, affinity for different IgG isotypes, signal transduction, and phagocyte effector functions.³  Not all FcγR classes are capable of eliciting phagocytosis.³  In the human pulmonary alveolar macrophage (AM), FcγRI is the most abundantly expressed class of phagocytic FcγRs, but low levels of FcγRIIa are also detected.⁴  On FcγR clustering, its immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) is phosphorylated by receptor-associated protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) of the Src family (Src, Lck, Lyn, Fgr, Hck, Fyn, and Yes). The phosphorylated ITAM then serves as a docking site for Src-homology 2 domain-containing adapter proteins and enzymes, including Syk PTK, phospholipase C, the Ras-activating enzyme Sos, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase.⁵  Upon their engagement by IgG-opsonized targets, both FcγRs as well as some of their associated signaling molecules redistribute to lipid rafts (LRs), highly dynamic cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched microdomains that can act as platforms on which signaling proteins are assembled and which serve to compartmentalize a variety of cellular processes.⁶  In addition to their roles in the membrane reorganization events of phagocytosis, these signaling molecules are also required for the induction of proinflammatory mediators involved in the amplification of phagocyte actions as well as the recruitment of leukocytes to the inflammatory milieu.⁷ 

Among such mediators, the 5-lipoxygenase–derived products of arachidonic acid, leukotriene (LT) B₄, and the cysteinyl LTs (CysLTs), LTC₄, LTD₄, and LTE₄, enhance a myriad of leukocyte functions.⁸  LTB₄ and CysLTs each bind 2 different classes of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), termed leukotriene B₄ receptors 1 and 2 (BLT1 and BLT2)^9,10  and CysLT receptors 1 and 2 (CysLT1 and CysLT2).^11,12  GPCRs signal through the activation of small heterotrimeric G proteins that modulate the generation of second messengers, such as cyclic adenosine 5′-monophosphate and Ca²⁺.¹³  We have shown that exogenously added or endogenously generated LTB₄ and LTD₄ promote FcγR-dependent phagocytosis and microbial killing in AMs via BLT1 and CysLT1, respectively;^14,15  however, there are key differences in the intracellular programs they use to enhance AM functions. First, LTB₄/BLT1 is a more potent enhancer of AM phagocytosis and bacterial killing of IgG-opsonized targets than is LTD₄/CysLT1.¹⁶  Second, BLT1 is functionally coupled primarily to Gαi, whereas CysLT1 is coupled only to Gαq.¹⁷  Third, LTB₄ effects on FcγR-mediated phagocytosis are dependent on activation of Syk¹⁸  and protein kinase C (PKC)-α, whereas LTD₄ effects are independent of Syk¹⁸  and PKC-α, but dependent on PKC-δ.¹⁹ 

Various FcγRs have also been shown to be differentially distributed to LRs. FcγRIIa and IIb translocate to LRs upon FcγR engagement in COS-1 and RBL cells as well as the macrophage cell lines U937 and RAW 264.7,^20-23  whereas FcγRI is constitutively present in LRs in U937 and IIA1.6 cells.²⁴  The recruitment of receptors and signaling molecules to the LR depends on a variety of signals, including acetylation and phosphorylation of proteins. The signals that govern the translocation of FcγRI to the LR are unknown.

In this study, we investigated the importance of LRs in the actions of LTB₄ on FcγRI-mediated phagocytosis in AMs and the consequences of receptor localization and molecular interactions within LRs. Besides FcγRs, GPCRs, heterotrimeric G proteins, adenylate cyclases, small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), and kinases have all been observed to partition to LRs, either constitutively or after agonist challenge.²⁵  We found that FcγRI engagement results in tyrosine phosphorylation of BLT1 by Src family kinases; this leads to a molecular complex within LRs comprising FcγRI, BLT1, Gαi3, and Src itself, which drives LTB₄-enhanced signaling and phagocyte functions. To our knowledge, these findings are the first to demonstrate a functionally critical physical association between a GPCR and an immunoreceptor.

Wistar rats were purchased from Charles River Laboratories, and BLT1 knockout (KO; B6.129S4-Ltb4r1^tm1Adl/J),²⁶  and strain-matched wild-type C57BL/6 mice were purchased from Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories. All animals were treated according to National Institutes of Health guidelines for the use of experimental animals with the approval of the University of Michigan Committee for the Use and Care of Animals.

A complete list and sources of reagents and antibodies can be found in supplemental materials (available on the Blood website; see the Supplemental Materials link at the top of the online article).

Resident AMs of more than 95% purity were obtained from rats via lung lavage and plated as described.²⁷ 

Membranes were isolated as described in supplemental materials. Separation of LR microdomains in OptiPrep gradient was performed according to the methods of MacDonald and Pike²⁸  and Weerth et al,²⁹  with modifications. The membrane pellets in 400 μL of HEPES (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid) were mixed with 550 μL of 60% OptiPrep to obtain a 45% solution. This mixture was overlaid with 950 μL of 35% and 475 μL of 5% OptiPrep/HEPES buffer without NaCl. Tubes were centrifuged for 18 hours at 100 000g. After centrifugation, a distinct band was apparent at the interface of the 35% end of the gradient and the 5% OptiPrep bottom layer. Ten fractions of equal volume were collected from the top of the tube. Based on pilot experiments, we routinely pooled fractions 3 to 6 as containing LR fractions and fractions 7 to 10 as containing non-LR fractions, and subjected each to immunoblot analysis as described.

For FcγRI and BLT1 immunoprecipitation, we performed detergent-free fractionation of the membranes, and both LR and non-LR fractions were precleared with protein A-Sepharose for 30 minutes and incubated overnight at 4°C with anti-FcγRI, anti-BLT1, or nonspecific IgG (1:80; CN:sc 2027; Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Protein A-Sepharose was added and incubated for 3 hours with rotation at 4°C, and immunoprecipitates were isolated and subjected to electrophoresis, as previously described.¹⁵ 

Immunoblot analysis was performed, as previously described,¹⁸  using primary antibodies described in supplemental materials. Densitometric analysis was as described;¹⁷  the density of the phosphorylated bands was divided by actin; and the degree of phosphorylation was taking into account the bands of untreated controls.

A total of 2 × 10⁵ AMs was plated in 4-well chamber slides (Nunc), incubated with or without 10:1 IgG–red blood cells (RBCs) for 10 minutes, and then washed with phosphate buffered saline. Patches of the LR marker GM1 ganglioside were identified by staining for 15 minutes with Alexa 488–cholera toxin B (CTxB; 1:1000) at 4°C. Rabbit anti-CTxB was used when AMs were stained for LT receptors, and mouse anti–CTxB was used when AMs were stained for FcγRI. For colocalization studies, slides were fixed with 3% paraformaldehyde, parasolubilized with 0.1% Triton X-100/1% bovine serum albumin, and blocked with 5% fetal bovine serum in phosphate-buffered saline before incubation with various combinations of primary antibodies against BLT1, CysLT1, or FcγRI (each used at 1:200). Rhodamine- or fluorescein isothiocyanate–conjugated goat anti–rabbit or anti–mouse secondary antibody (1:200) was used (Sigma-Aldrich; CN:F9887 and T5393). Simultaneous detection of GM1, BLT1, and FcγRI used Alexa 488-CTxB and rabbit anti-CTxB (Molecular Probes; 1:200; CN:V-34403), mouse Alexa 647 anti-BLT1 (AbD Serotec; CN:MCA2108A647T; 1:50), and mouse phycoerythrin anti-FcγRI (BD Biosciences; 1:50; CN:558455). Cells stained with isotype-matched control antibody were used to control for the background from each fluorophore. Slides were mounted in Prolong Gold mounting media (Molecular Probes) with DAPI (4,6 diamidino-2-phenylindole). Cells were imaged on a Zeiss LSM 510 confocal microscope with an inverted Axiovert 100 M microscope stand using a C-apochromat ×40/1.2 W corr. The 488-nm line from an Ar laser and the 543- and 633-nm lines from 2 He/Ne lasers were used for excitation. The images were analyzed using LS 2.5 image analysis software (Zeiss). Photographs were obtained only of AMs containing bound or internalized IgG-RBCs. Confocal images were taken with identical settings to allow comparison of staining. Single confocal sections of the cells were captured in multitrack. Each set of frames from a given treatment condition depicts a representative AM selected from 20 analyzed cells.

Cholesterol depletion was accomplished by treatment for 5 minutes with 5 mM MβCD and 2βΗPCD or the negative control MαCD, as described.³⁰ 

Phagocytosis of IgG-RBCs was assessed, as previously described.¹⁷  In one set of experiments, AMs were preincubated with anti-FcγRI, anti-FcγRII, anti-FcγRIII, or nonspecific rabbit IgG (1 μg/mL) for 30 minutes before 5-minute treatment plus or minus LTB₄ (10 nM) and subsequent addition of IgG-RBCs. The ability of Klebsiella pneumoniae to survive intracellularly after phagocytosis was assessed, as previously described.¹⁵ 

Representative immunoblots from 3 to 5 independent experiments are depicted. Graphs represent the mean plus or minus SEM from at least 3 independent experiments. The means from different treatment groups were compared by analysis of variance, followed by Bonferroni analysis. Statistical significance was set at a P value of up to .05.

Using selective receptor antagonists, we previously demonstrated a critical role for BLT1 in the enhancement of FcγR-mediated phagocytosis.^14-16  The importance of endogenous LTB₄/BLT1-derived signals for optimal baseline IgG-RBC ingestion was verified in new studies using AMs from BLT1 KO mice, which ingested approximately 50% fewer IgG-RBCs at baseline than did wild-type AMs. Furthermore, AMs from BLT1 KO mice were entirely unable to potentiate phagocytosis when treated with LTB₄, but thoroughly maintained their responsiveness to LTD₄ (Figure 1A). The importance of FcγRI in phagocytosis by rat AMs has not been established previously. To determine which class of FcγR is involved in basal as well as LTB₄-augmented IgG-RBC ingestion by rat AMs, we used blocking antibodies against FcγRI, II, and III,³¹  followed by the addition of LTB₄ and then opsonized targets. Anti-FcγRI was the only blocking antibody that substantially inhibited basal IgG-RBC ingestion and completely inhibited LTB₄ effects (Figure 1B). These findings provide the rationale for a focus on BLT1 and FcγRI in subsequent experiments.

Because BLT1 signaling enhances FcγR-mediated processes in AMs, we asked whether both BLT1 and FcγRI are distributed to the LR upon FcγR engagement. To evaluate BLT1 and FcγRI receptor localization in membrane microdomains, we primarily used a detergent-free membrane fractionation protocol using Optiprep^28,32  because detergent lysis can be subject to artifacts such as a propensity to preferentially solubilize outer leaflet membrane lipids.³³  Using this technique, the LR marker flotillin-1 was enriched in fractions 3 to 6, whereas the non-LR marker CD45 was enriched in fractions 7 to 10 (Figure 2A). For subsequent experiments, the fractions enriched with flotillin-1 or CD45 were pooled and designated “LR fractions” and “non-LR fractions,” respectively. In resting cells, BLT1 was found predominantly in non-LR fractions, whereas FcγRI was observed in both LR and non-LR fractions. After a 10-minute incubation with IgG-RBCs at a target:cell ratio of 30:1, FcγRI as well as BLT1 were distributed predominantly in flotillin-1–positive LR fractions (Figure 2B). Discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation in 0.5% Triton X-100³³  of membranes isolated from resting or IgG-RBC–stimulated AMs verified this redistribution of BLT1 to LRs upon FcγR engagement (supplemental Figure 1). We also investigated the distribution of FcγRIIa and b in AMs, but their expression levels were barely detectable in any fractions (data not shown); by contrast, they were detectable in membrane fractions of elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages and human monocytes, confirming the reactivity of the antibodies used (data not shown).

Pretreatment with exogenous LTB₄ did not alter the IgG-triggered redistribution of BLT1 and FcγRI to LR fractions (Figure 2B). Importantly, 5-minute treatment with LTB₄ in the absence of IgG targets was unable to promote redistribution of either BLT1 or FcγRI to LR fractions of AMs (Figure 2D), suggesting that signals required for BLT1 translocation to LRs are exclusively derived from FcγR. Next, the membrane localization of signaling molecules involved in BLT1 effects, including Gαi3 and Gαq,¹⁷  as well as PKC-α and PKC-δ,¹⁹  was examined. Both Gαi3 and Gαq were primarily localized to LR fractions in all conditions studied (Figure 2B). As expected, neither isoform of PKC was present in the membranes of resting cells; however, both isoforms accumulated in LR > non-LR membrane fractions upon FcγR engagement. Of note, LTB₄ pretreatment increased the proportion of both PKC-α and PKC-δ within LRs compared with IgG-RBC challenge alone (Figure 2B-C).

To further exclude a potential role for BLT2 in LTB₄ effects,⁹  we investigated the distribution of this receptor in AM membrane microdomains. BLT2 was identified only in non-LR domains in all conditions tested (Figure 2B). As a comparison, we also investigated the distribution of another class of LT receptor, namely CysLT1. In resting cells, CysLT1 was found in both LR and non-LR domains, and upon FcγR engagement, this receptor redistributed mainly to LRs (supplemental Figure 2A). Interestingly, pretreatment with the CysLT1 agonist LTD₄, followed by IgG-RBCs, caused redistribution of signaling molecules involved in LTD₄ enhancement of phagocytosis, such as Gαq, PKC-α, and PKC-δ, to the non-LR domain (supplemental Figure 2E). These data provide a striking contrast to those obtained for BLT1 and its associated signaling molecules.

Confocal microscopy was performed as an alternative approach to examining the localization of BLT1 and FcγRI, capitalizing on the fact that molecules of the constitutive LR ganglioside GM1 cluster when cross-linked and such clusters are large enough to be detected by microscopy.³⁴  GM1 was cross-linked by CTxB, and anti-CTxB antibody detected clustering (patching) of GM1.³⁴  Immunofluorescence detection indicated that a small proportion of FcγRI appeared to colocalize with GM1 in resting cells (Figure 2Ei), whereas BLT1 did not (Figure 2Eiii). The addition of IgG-RBCs for 10 minutes markedly increased the colocalization of FcγRI as well as of BLT1 with GM1 (Figure 2Eii-iv). In addition, CysLT1 colocalization with GM1 also increased upon FcγR engagement (supplemental Figures 2A and 4Bii). We observed no further increase in the colocalization of either BLT1 or FcγRI with GM1 when AMs were pretreated with LTB₄ before the addition of IgG-coated targets (data not shown). A similar pattern of results was obtained when LRs were identified by immunofluorescence staining of flotillin-1 rather than by detection of GM1 (data not shown). These imaging experiments support the conclusions from immunoblot analysis that engagement of FcγR triggers redistribution of both the immunoreceptor as well as of BLT1 and CysLT1 to LRs.

Because both BLT1 and FcγRI were found to redistribute to LRs upon FcγR engagement, we sought to determine whether these microdomains were necessary for the LTB₄-induced enhancement of signaling and AM antimicrobial functions. AMs were pretreated with drugs that deplete cholesterol from plasma membranes and thereby functionally disrupt rafts, namely MβCD, 2βΗPCD, or the negative control congener MαCD. That MβCD in fact disrupted LR integrity was evidenced by the facts that CD45 and flotillin-1 were now distributed among both LR and non-LR fractions (supplemental Figure 3A-B), and that both GM1 and BLT1 were colocalized with CD45 in IgG-RBC–stimulated AMs (data not shown). To investigate the functional consequences of LR disruption, cyclodextrin compounds were added at 5 mM for 5 minutes³⁰  before addition of LTB₄ (10 nM), after which phagocytosis of IgG-RBCs was determined. With intact LR integrity, LTB₄ (Figure 3A) increased phagocytosis, as expected on the basis of our previous reports.^16,18  LR disruptors MβCD and 2βΗPCD substantially attenuated LTB₄-enhanced phagocytosis (Figure 3A); the specificity of this phenomenon was supported by the fact that MαCD had no effect on the augmentation of phagocytosis by LTB₄. Parallel experiments were performed to determine whether LRs were necessary for LTB₄ potentiation of another important AM effector function, namely killing of immune serum-opsonized K pneumoniae.¹⁵  AMs were pretreated with the LR disruptors or the negative congener, followed by the addition of LTB₄, as described above. MβCD and 2βΗPCD specifically abolished the enhancing effect of LTB₄ on AM bacterial killing (Figure 3B). The fact that LR disruption failed to reduce basal phagocytosis or bacterial killing below control (non-LTB₄) levels (Figure 3A-B and supplemental Figure 4A-B) suggests that LRs are not essential for basal FcγR-mediated effector functions in AMs. These data indicate that BLT1 localization within LRs is required for LTB₄ to enhance antimicrobial activity against IgG-opsonized targets. Because CysLT1 also redistributed to LRs upon FcγR engagement, the functional requirement for the integrity of these microdomains in LTD₄-induced enhancement of AM antimicrobial functions was determined. LTD₄ (100 nM) treatment elicited the expected increases in both phagocytosis and bacterial killing; however, pretreatment with the LR disruptors MβCD and 2βΗPCD had no impact on these effects of LTD₄ (supplemental Figure 4C-D).

Next, the importance of raft integrity for intracellular signaling cascades activated by BLT1 ligation in the context of FcγR cross-linking was determined. AMs were pretreated as described in “Cholesterol depletion” with the LR disruptor MβCD or with the inactive congener MαCD, after which they were treated for 5 minutes with LTB₄ and subsequently with IgG-RBCs for 15 minutes. FcγR engagement activated (ie, phosphorylated) PKC-α, PKC-δ, and Syk, and pretreatment with exogenous LTB₄ potentiated activation of each of these kinases (Figure 3C-D). LR disruption had no effect on basal activation of these 3 kinases during FcγR engagement (data not shown), but did abolish their potentiation by LTB₄ (Figure 3C-D), confirming the importance of LR integrity for the molecular events underlying LTB₄ enhancement of antimicrobial function.

Because our data indicated that BLT1 and FcγRI are both localized to LR microdomains during FcγR engagement and also elicit convergent signaling and functional responses, we asked whether these 2 receptors physically interact. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that although a fraction of immunodetectable BLT1 colocalized with FcγRγI in resting cells, the degree of colocalization increased markedly upon FcγR engagement (Figure 4Ai-ii). We observed no colocalization between CysLT1 and FcγRI under any condition tested (supplemental Figure 2Biii-iv).

To confirm the microscopic studies, we immunoprecipitated FcγRI from LR and non-LR membrane fractions of AMs that had been challenged or not with IgG-RBCs, and performed immunoblot analysis on the immunoprecipitates using antibodies against FcγRI, BLT1, and the irrelevant GPCR G2A. As presented in Figure 3B-C, a small proportion of BLT1 coimmunoprecipitated with FcγRI in LR fractions of resting cells, but this increased markedly after FcγR engagement. G2A and BLT2 failed to coimmunoprecipitate with FcγRI in either LR or non-LR fractions of resting or stimulated cells (data not shown). The FcγRI immunoprecipitates were also examined for the presence of the small G proteins Gαi3 and Gαq. Like BLT1, Gαi3, but not Gαq, also strongly coimmunoprecipitated with FcγRI within LRs of IgG-challenged AMs (Figure 4B-C). The presence of G2A, BLT2, and Gαq in the membrane fractions was confirmed by their detection using Western blot of the supernatants resulting from precipitation (data not shown). In complementary fashion, reverse immunoprecipitation with anti-BLT1 coimmunoprecipitated FcγRI and flotillin-1 in the LR fraction (Figure 4D). Pretreatment with exogenous LTB₄ before addition of IgG-RBCs did not modify the observed colocalization of BLT1 and FcγR in either confocal microscopy or immunoprecipitation experiments (data not shown). Immunoprecipitation with a nonspecific IgG failed to coimmunoprecipitate either FcγRI (Figure 4E) or BLT1 (data not shown). Taken together, these data suggest that the dependence on LR integrity for the antimicrobial actions of BLT1 reflects the association within LRs of BLT1 with both FcγRI as well as its primary coupled Gα protein, Gαi3.

Although serine³⁵  and threonine³⁶  phosphorylation of BLT1 have been implicated in receptor desensitization, neither its tyrosine phosphorylation nor a potential positive role for its phosphorylation in downstream signaling events has previously been investigated. Therefore, phosphorylation of BLT1 was examined by immunoblot analysis in pooled membrane fractions of BLT1 immunoprecipitates. BLT1 was tyrosine phosphorylated in non-LR fractions in resting cells, but tyrosine-phosphorylated receptor redistributed to LR fractions after IgG-RBC challenge. BLT1 was also phosphorylated on serine residues in both LR and non-LR in resting cells, but serine-phosphorylated receptor was confined to LRs upon FcγR engagement (Figure 5A-B).

We next explored the role of kinases in the redistribution of BLT1 to LRs upon IgG-RBC challenge, initially by pretreating AMs with the generalized PTK inhibitor genistein (100 μM) or the PKC inhibitor calphostin C (100 nM), followed by IgG-RBC stimulation and LR fractionation. Neither genistein nor calphostin C affected the distribution of the LR marker flotillin-1 or the non-LR marker CD45, suggesting that phosphorylation state does not affect LR integrity. Interestingly, genistein, but not calphostin C treatment inhibited BLT1 redistribution to LRs during IgG-RBC challenge, whereas FcγRI distribution was unaffected by both inhibitors (supplemental Figure 5A-B). This effect of genistein was confirmed by immunoprecipitation experiments, where once again genistein, but not calphostin C, abolished the association of FcγRI with BLT1 in both LR and non-LR fractions (supplemental Figure 5C-D).

According to the program GPS 2.0 (http://gps.biocuckoo.org/down.php),³⁷  the only PTKs for which BLT1 contains consensus phosphorylation sequences are Src family members Fgr and B-cell lymphocyte kinases. To investigate the role of Src family kinases in the BLT1 interaction with FcγRI, AMs were pretreated with the Src kinase inhibitor PP2 (1 μM) or its negative control congener PP3 (1 μM). As shown in Figure 5E and F, PP2 specifically decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of immunoprecipitated BLT1 within LRs. Moreover, as assessed by immunoblot analysis, PP2 (but not PP3) prevented BLT1 redistribution to LRs during IgG-RBC challenge, while not affecting redistribution of FcγRI (Figure 5C-D); this effect of PP2 was confirmed by immunoprecipitation experiments (Figure 5E-F). Interestingly, we also observed that Src kinase itself physically associated with BLT1 within LRs during FcγR engagement, an association that was decreased by PP2 treatment (Figure 5E-F). Thus, Src not only mediates BLT1 phosphorylation and drives redistribution of the GPCR to LRs, where it associates with FcγRI and Gαi3, but is itself a component of this multimolecular complex within rafts.

Confocal microscopy was performed to verify the effects of Src inhibition, using anti-FcγRI conjugated to PE; anti-BLT1 conjugated to Alexa 647, which was pseudocolored as dark blue; and anti-CTxB conjugated with Alexa 488. AMs were pretreated with PP2 or PP3, and then challenged with IgG-RBCs. Resting cells demonstrated no colocalization between GM1 and either BLT1 or FcγRI, but some colocalization between BLT1 and FcγRI, as indicated by the purple dots in the merged image (Figure 5Gi). Upon IgG-RBC challenge, colocalization of GM1, BLT1, and FcγRI was evidenced by the white-gray dots (bold arrow in Figure 5Gii). Although PP2 failed to prevent FcγRI colocalization with GM1, it did impair colocalization between BLT1 and both FcγRI as well as GM1. The scattered blue dots indicated by dashed arrows represent BLT1 in non-LR microdomains resulting from Src inhibitor treatment (Figure 5Giv). As expected, there was no effect of PP3 on the colocalization of BLT1/FcγRI or on the redistribution of the receptors to LRs (Figure 5Giii).

We next investigated whether Src activity is required for LTB₄/BLT1 effects on FcγR-mediated phagocytosis by pretreating AMs with PP2 or PP3, followed by LTB₄ challenge. PP2 at 100 nM (but not PP3) exerted no effect on basal phagocytosis of IgG-RBCs, but completely inhibited LTB₄ enhancement of FcγR-mediated phagocytosis (Figure 5H). At a concentration of 1 μM, PP2 also inhibited basal phagocytosis by approximately 70% (data not shown). This indicates that BLT1 phosphorylation by Src after engagement of FcγRI is also required for the enhancement by LTB₄ of AM antimicrobial functions.

The studies reported in this work used the AM, a primary macrophage that resides on the pulmonary alveolar surface, to provide novel insights into the membrane organization of antimicrobial signaling cascades elicited by the phagocytic receptor FcγRI as well as by the GPCR BLT1, which mediates the immunostimulatory actions of endogenously generated LTB₄. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that during FcγR engagement, Src kinase phosphorylates BLT1, and this mediates the direct association of BLT1 with FcγRI and also enhances the activation of key downstream signaling molecules within LR microdomains (Figure 6). The importance of LR integrity for signaling downstream from BLT1 is evidenced by the complete disruption of both the signaling events and the potent antimicrobial actions of LTB₄ after cholesterol depletion. By contrast, such dependency on LR integrity was not observed for the antimicrobial effects mediated by an alternative class of LT receptor, CysLT1. Our findings using both biochemical and imaging approaches represent the first examples of which we are aware of (1) GPCR redistribution to LRs upon engagement of an immunoreceptor, and (2) a direct interaction between a GPCR and an immunoreceptor.

Although LTs enhance phagocytosis of microbes via a myriad of opsonic or pathogen recognition receptors,³⁸  our previous studies examining LT-induced signaling in AMs have primarily centered on the context of ingestion via FcγR.¹⁴  FcγRI is the most abundantly expressed immunoreceptor isoform in this cell type in humans;⁴  in this study, we have verified that this is also the case for the rat AM, and have further demonstrated that this isoform mediates basal and LTB₄-stimulated IgG-RBC ingestion in these cells. Several reports indicate that FcγRII either is localized to LRs constitutively or is recruited to LRs upon its engagement in human neutrophils,³⁹  U937 cells,²⁰  RAW 264.7 cells,²³  and natural killer cells.⁴⁰  Beekman et al have shown that FcγRI is constitutively present in LRs of human monocytes, U937, and FcγRI/FcRγ chain-transfected IIA1.6 cells,²⁴  but the localization of this FcγR isoform in macrophages was previously unknown. Furthermore, the role of LRs in opsonic phagocytosis is controversial. Kwiatkowska et al showed that LRs are important for the ingestion of IgG-coated targets in U937 cells,²⁰  whereas Lamberti et al⁴¹  and Naroeni and Porte⁴²  reported that MβCD failed to interfere with ingestion of IgG-opsonized pathogens in neutrophils and J774.A1 cells, respectively. In our model, cholesterol depletion had no impact on baseline FcγR-mediated phagocytosis or bacterial killing. Our results show that both BLT1 and FcγRI were predominantly localized to non-LR fractions in resting AMs. By contrast, Sitrin et al previously reported that BLT1 was constitutively present in LRs of human neutrophils.³⁰  Differences in BLT1 localization to LRs between these 2 phagocyte populations remain to be explained, but could reflect differences in fractionation protocols, in the activation states of the 2 cell types, or in their LR compositions. That BLT1 translocation to LRs is a specific consequence of FcγR engagement, rather than a universal finding during phagocytosis, was evidenced by the fact that it failed to redistribute to LRs upon AM stimulation with Candida albicans (data not shown), whose ingestion is mediated by pathogen recognition receptors such as the mannose and dectin receptors.⁴³  There is abundant precedent for GPCRs to redistribute to LRs upon binding by their cognate ligands.⁴⁴  Although LTB₄ is generated under conditions of FcγR engagement in AMs,¹⁶  the inability of exogenously added LTB₄ to itself elicit LR redistribution of its high-affinity GPCR BLT1 argues against the participation of this lipid mediator in this phenomenon. The novel finding that BLT1 instead translocates to LRs upon engagement of this opsonic receptor is consistent with many other lines of evidence indicating a physiologic role for LTB₄ in antimicrobial defense.³⁸ 

Immunoprecipitation studies showed that BLT1 is partially associated with FcγRI primarily in non-LR domains of resting AMs. FcγR engagement results in a much more robust association between BLT1 and FcγRI within LRs, and this complex also includes Gαi3, the G protein we have shown to be most critical for mediating antimicrobial actions of LTB₄ via BLT1 in AMs, as well as Src kinase, which mediates the interaction between BLT1 and FcγRI. Although detergent-free preparation of LRs offers several advantages (eg, avoiding differential solubilization of specific LR subsets and preferential solubilization of outer leaflet membrane lipids^25,33 ), it is theoretically possible that immunoprecipitation under these conditions could pull down all raft components and thereby overestimate the physical interaction between partner proteins within LRs. However, confocal microscopic analysis provided independent verification of the interaction between FcγRI and BLT1. Moreover, the fact that several other proteins shown to be associated with LRs (Gαq, the lysophosphatidylcholine receptor G2A, CysLT1, BLT2, and PKC-α and PKC-δ) failed to coimmunoprecipitate with either FcγRI or BLT1 argues strongly for the specificity of the interactions reported in this study. Although Src-dependent phosphorylation of BLT1 is required for BLT1 association with FcγRI and redistribution to LRs, our present studies cannot distinguish between these 2 possible scenarios: (1) phosphorylation promotes BLT1 association with FcγRI in non-LR domains, permitting immunoreceptor to carry GPCR into LRs, and (2) phosphorylation directly promotes BLT1 translocation to LRs, where GPCR associates with immunoreceptor. Even though we have shown that Src phosphorylation is necessary for the interaction between BLT1 and FcγRI in LRs, we cannot exclude the possibility that another molecule(s) may serve as a bridge to mediate such association. Although FcγR has not previously been demonstrated to associate with a GPCR, FcγRIIa has been reported to associate with platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule–1⁴⁵  and glycoprotein Ib-IX-V complex,⁴⁶  and FcγRIIIa has been shown to physically associate with the IL-12 receptor in the LR in natural killer cells.⁴⁰  Another example of an interaction between 2 different classes of receptors includes that of insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 with chemokines CXC chemokine receptor 4⁴⁷  and C-C chemokine receptor 5.⁴⁸ 

The signals generated in response to FcγRI engagement that results in physical association between BLT1 and FcγRI within LR microdomains were investigated. Posttranslational modifications such as palmitoylation, myristoylation, and phosphorylation promote the ability of proteins to interact with the unique lipid environment of LRs.⁴⁹  Among the proteins that are susceptible to acylation and phosphorylation are receptors including GPCRs, G proteins, and Src family kinases.⁴⁴  We studied the role of phosphorylation in promoting both the association of BLT1 with FcγRI as well as the redistribution of both receptors to LRs. Whereas FcγRI engagement enhanced both serine and tyrosine phosphorylation of BLT1 in LRs, BLT1 redistribution to and physical association with FcγRI in LRs were not abrogated by the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C. Although serine/threonine phosphorylation of BLT1 has been implicated in receptor desensitization,^35,36  neither its tyrosine phosphorylation nor a role for its phosphorylation in downstream signaling events has been reported. In contrast to calphostin C, the broad spectrum PTK inhibitor genistein did abrogate the tyrosine phosphorylation of BLT1 as well as its redistribution to LRs and its interaction with the immunoreceptor. Because BLT1 contains consensus sequences for phosphorylation by Src kinases and because these kinases are also known to be activated by FcγR ligation and to carry out tyrosine phosphorylation of the FcγR ITAM,⁵  it was of interest to investigate their role in formation of the BLT1/FcγRI complex as well as in translocation of both receptors to the LR. Like genistein, PP2 attenuated BLT1 phosphorylation and prevented its colocalization with both GM1 and FcγRI, but did not impair FcγRI/GM1 colocalization. Inhibition of another PTK robustly activated by FcγR engagement, Syk, failed to abrogate BLT1 redistribution or interaction with FcγRI, consistent with the lack of consensus sequences in BLT1 for phosphorylation by Syk (data not shown). The functional significance of these actions of Src kinase on BLT1 is indicated by the fact that the Src inhibitor PP2 abolished LTB₄ effects on the enhancement of IgG-RBC ingestion. Confirmation by RNA silencing would strengthen our conclusions derived from Src inhibition, but this approach awaits identification of the specific Src family member responsible. Tyrosine phosphorylation of GPCRs after engagement of growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases has been reported,⁵⁰  and Delcourt et al have shown that Src kinase-dependent phosphorylation of the GPCR pituitary adenylate cyclase–activating polypeptide receptor type I mediates its association with insulin-like growth factor-1.⁵¹  Our work extends this type of interaction with a GPCR to a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase immunoreceptor and defines the permissive role of LRs in supporting it. The applicability of our findings to other rat macrophage populations and to AMs of species other than rat remains to be determined.

Our studies thus identify a novel mode of interaction of a GPCR, BLT1, with FcγRI within LRs, which is triggered by immunoreceptor engagement. The ability of FcγRI engagement to affect the recruitment of BLT1 serves to amplify the function of this opsonic receptor. These data provide new insights into the spatial organization and molecular interactions involved in lipid mediator receptor signaling to enhance antimicrobial functions of AMs, responses that are pivotal to immune defenses in the lung.

We thank Sang-Hoon Kim for performing phagocytosis experiments with PP2, Teresa Marshall and Casey Lewis for technical assistance, Thomas G. Brock and the Microscopy Image Analysis Laboratory Core at University of Michigan for assistance with immunofluorescence microscopy, Sara L. Emery for assistance with lipid raft fractionation, and members of the Peters-Golden laboratory for their input on this project.

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants HL058897 (M.P.-G.), HL078727 (D.M.A.), and AI 060983 (R.G.S.). C.H.S. was supported by an American Lung Association Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.

National Institutes of Health

Contribution: C.H.S. designed the research, performed experiments, analyzed data, and wrote the paper; D.M.A. and R.G.S. designed the research and analyzed data; and M.P.-G. designed research, supervised the work, analyzed data, and wrote the paper.

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Correspondence: Marc Peters-Golden, 6301 MSRB III, Box 5642, 1150 West Medical Center Dr, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5642; e-mail: petersm@umich.edu.