Identification of a sorting motif for Tspan3 to MHCII compartments in human B cells.

Tetraspanins are four-transmembrane proteins that play fundamental roles in the immune system by enabling processes like migration, proliferation, signaling and protein trafficking. While the importance of cell surface tetraspanins has been established, the function of intracellular tetraspanins is less well understood. Here, we investigated the role of tetraspanin 3 (Tspan3) in lymphocytes.

N-Glycosylation-dependent regulation of immune-specific tetraspanins CD37 and CD53.

Tetraspanin proteins play an important role in many cellular processes as they are key organizers of different receptors on the plasma membrane. Most tetraspanins are highly glycosylated at their large extracellular loop; however, little is known about the function of tetraspanin glycosylation in immune cells. In this study we investigated the effects of glycosylation of CD37 and CD53, two tetraspanins important for cellular and humoral immunity.

Galectin-9 interacts with Vamp-3 to regulate cytokine secretion in dendritic cells.

Intracellular vesicle transport is essential for cellular homeostasis and is partially mediated by SNARE proteins. Endosomal trafficking to the plasma membrane ensures cytokine secretion in dendritic cells (DCs) and the initiation of immune responses. Despite its critical importance, the specific molecular components that regulate DC cytokine secretion are poorly characterised.

Giant worm-shaped ESCRT scaffolds surround actin-independent integrin clusters.

Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) proteins can be transiently recruited to the plasma membrane for membrane repair and formation of extracellular vesicles. Here, we discovered micrometer-sized worm-shaped ESCRT structures that stably persist for multiple hours at the plasma membrane of macrophages, dendritic cells, and fibroblasts. These structures surround clusters of integrins and known cargoes of extracellular vesicles.

Fatty acid metabolism in aggressive B-cell lymphoma is inhibited by tetraspanin CD37.

The importance of fatty acid (FA) metabolism in cancer is well-established, yet the mechanisms underlying metabolic reprogramming remain elusive. Here, we identify tetraspanin CD37, a prognostic marker for aggressive B-cell lymphoma, as essential membrane-localized inhibitor of FA metabolism. Deletion of CD37 on lymphoma cells results in increased FA oxidation shown by functional assays and metabolomics.