Decreased signaling competence as a result of receptor overexpression: overexpression of CD4 reduces its ability to activate p56lck tyrosine kinase and to regulate T-cell antigen receptor expression in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes.

Thymic selection of the developing T-cell repertoire occurs in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, with the fate of individual thymocytes determined by the specificity of T-cell antigen receptor they express. However, T-cell antigen receptor expression in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is actively down-regulated in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by CD4-mediated tyrosine kinase signals that are generated in the thymus as a result of CD4 engagement by intrathymic ligands. In the present study we have examined the effect of CD4 overexpression in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes on activation of CD4-associated p56lck tyrosine kinase and regulation of T-cell antigen receptor expression. Augmented CD4 expression in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes did not result in commensurate increases in associated p56lck molecules, so that CD4 expression was quantitatively disproportionate to that of its associated signaling molecule p56lck. Interestingly, we found that CD4 overexpression significantly interfered with the ability of CD4 crosslinking to activate associated p56lck molecules and significantly interfered with the ability of CD4 to regulate T-cell antigen receptor expression. Thus, this study provides an example in which receptor overexpression leads to decreased receptor signaling competence.