A distinct cytoplasmic domain of CD2 regulates ligand avidity and T-cell responsiveness to antigen

The T-cell glycoprotein CD2 not only contributes to intercellular adhesion but also plays a direct role in T-cell activation. Here we demonstrate that the interaction of CD2 with its ligand lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 (CD58) is regulated by T-cell receptor-CD3 signaling. T-cell receptor-CD3 crosslinking by specific antigen or monoclonal antibodies rapidly increases the avidity with which cell-surface CD2 binds immunoaffinity-purified CD58. Mutational analysis of the CD2 cytoplasmic domain demonstrates that the carboxyl-terminal asparagine is essential for T-cell receptor-induced changes in CD2 avidity but is not essential for CD2-mediated signaling, establishing that the cytoplasmic portion of CD2 consists of distinct functional domains. Furthermore, cell lines expressing CD2 molecules incapable of avidity regulation exhibit a marked deficiency in an antigen-specific response. Thus, the regulation of CD2 adhesiveness has a profound effect on the ability of CD2 to enhance antigen responsiveness. These observations demonstrate that adhesion strengthening resulting from increased CD2 avidity contributes directly to T-cell responsiveness independently of CD2-mediated signal transduction.