Abstract
Until a few years ago, lymphatic vessels and lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) were viewed as part of a passive conduit for lymph and immune cells to reach lymph nodes (LN). However, recent work has shown that LEC are active immunological players whose interaction with dendritic cells and T cells is of important immunomodulatory relevance. While the immunological interaction between LEC and other immune cells has taken a center stage, molecular analysis of LEC antigen processing and presentation machinery is still lagging. Herein we review the current knowledge of LEC MHC I and MHC II antigen processing and presentation pathways, Including the role of LEC in antigen phagocytosis, classical, and non-classical MHC II presentation, proteasome processing and MHC I presentation, and cross-presentation. The ultimate goal is to provide an overview of the LEC antigen processing and presentation machinery that constitutes the molecular basis for their role in MHC I and MHC II-restricted immune responses.
Highlights
Recent work has shown that lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) are active immunological players whose interaction with dendritic cells and T cells is of important immunomodulatory relevance
Surface expression in lymph nodes (LN)-LEC is similar to what observed in blood endothelial cells (BEC) but less than fibroblastic reticular cells from LN [1]
On the other hand the multilamellar bodies (MLB), which are lysosomal-like compartment formed by concentric lamellae and enriched in MHC class II molecules [16] are expressed in professional APCs, such as DCs, B cells and macrophages, and they have not been found in LEC
Summary
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Immunological Tolerance and Regulation, a section of the journal
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