T-cell activation requires TcR-mediated and co-stimulatory signals. ZAP-70 participates in the initial step of TcR signal transduction, while a co-receptor, CTLA-4, inhibits T-cell activation. In previous studies, the overexpression of a ZAP-70 mutant (ZAP-70-Y319F) inhibited the TcR-induced activation of NFAT and IL-2 production, while Hph-1-ctCTLA-4 prevented allergic inflammation. To develop ail effective immunosuppressive protein drug that blocks both TcR-mediated and co-stimulatory signaling pathways, a fusion protein of ZAP-70-Y319F and the Hph-1 protein transduction domain was generated. Hph-1-ZAP-70-Y319F inhibited the phosphorylation of ZAP-70-Tyr(319), LAT-Tyr(191), and p44/42 MAPK induced by TcR NFAT- and AP-1-mediated gene transcription, and the induction of CD69 expression and stimulation, IL-2 secretion. Hph-1-ZAP-70-Y319F and Hph-1-ctCTLA-4 synergistically inhibited signaling events during T-cell activation. This is the first report to demonstrate the synergistic inhibition of signals transmitted via TcR and its co-stimulatory receptor by cell-permeable forms of intracellular signal mediators. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.