QRICH1 mediates an intracellular checkpoint for CD8+ T cell activation via the CARD11 signalosome

Abstract

Antigen receptor signaling pathways that control lymphocyte activation depend on signaling hubs and negative regulatory proteins to fine-tune signaling outputs to ensure host defense and avoid pathogenic responses. Caspase recruitment domain–containing protein 11 (CARD11) is a critical signaling scaffold that translates T cell receptor (TCR) triggering into the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and Akt. Here, we identify glutamine-rich protein 1 (QRICH1) as a regulator of CARD11 signaling that mediates an intracellular checkpoint for CD8⁺ T cell activation. QRICH1 associates with CARD11 after TCR engagement and negatively regulates CARD11 signaling to NF-κB. QRICH1 binding to CARD11 is controlled by an autoregulatory intramolecular interaction between QRICH1 domains of previously uncharacterized function. QRICH1 controls the antigen-induced activation, proliferation, and effector status of CD8⁺ T cells by regulating numerous genes critical for CD8⁺ T cell function. Our results define a component of antigen receptor signaling circuitry that fine-tunes effector output in response to antigen recognition.