Cross-presentation Of Peptides Research Articles

Generation of novel complete HLA class I monoallelic cell lines used in an MHC stabilization assay for neoantigen evaluation.

Immunogenic neoantigens derived from somatic mutations in cancer have been identified through clinical studies with the cloning of tumor-infiltrating T cells, and cancer driver gene mutation-derived epitopes have been reported; however, these are rare. At present, the validation of epitopes predicted in silico is difficult as human T-cell clonal diversity cannot be reproduced in vitro or in experimental animal models. To confirm the epitope peptides presented by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules predicted in silico, biochemical methods such as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) stabilization assays and mass spectrometry-mediated identification have been developed based on HLA-A*02:01 monoallelic T2 cells and HLA-C*01:02 monoallelic LCL721.221 cells. Therefore, in the present study, to prevent confusion due to peptide cross-presentation among HLA molecules, HLA class I monoallelic B-cell clones were generated from the TISI cell line by knocking out HLA-ABC and TAP2, and knocking in HLA alleles. To explore cancer driver mutations as potential targets for immunotherapy, exome sequencing data from 5,143 patients with cancer enrolled in a comprehensive genome analysis project at the Shizuoka Cancer Center were used to identify somatic amino acid substituted mutations and the 50 most frequent mutations in five genes, TP53, EGFR, PIK3CA, KRAS and BRAF, were identified. Using NetMHC4.1, the present study predicted whether epitopes derived from these mutations are presented on major HLA-ABC alleles in Japanese individuals and synthesized 138 peptides for MHC stabilization assays. The authors also attempted to examine the candidate epitopes at physiological temperatures by using antibody clone G46-2.6, which can detect HLA-ABC, independent of β2-microglobulin association. In the assays, although the peptide-induced HLA expression levels were associated with the predicted affinities, the respective HLA alleles exhibited varying degrees of responsiveness, and unexpectedly, p53-mutant epitopes with predicted weak affinities exhibited strong responses. These results suggested that MHC stabilization assays using completely monoallelic HLA-expressing B-cell lines are useful for evaluating the presentation of neoantigen epitopes.

MHC Class I Assembly Function and Intracellular Transport Routes for Hepatitis B Virus Antigen Cross-presentation by Heat Shock Protein gp96

Abstract Background: During hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, virus-infected hepatocytes directly cross-present viral antigens and regulate T cell response within the liver microenvironment. However, little is known regarding the regulatory pathways involved in viral antigen presentation in HBV-infected hepatocytes. This study investigated the underlying mechanism of antigen assembly and the HBV antigen-presenting function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules using heat shock protein gp96. Methods: First, western blotting, flow cytometry, co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down, and confocal microscopic assays were performed to determine whether endogenous gp96 affects MHC-I levels via an antigen presentation pathway. Second, the B3Z assay and an AAV/HBV-infected hepatocyte-specific gp96-deficient mouse model were used to determine whether gp96 knockout functionally impaired peptide cross-presentation and produced a weakened antiviral cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response both in vivo and in vitro. Finally, confocal microscopic analysis and the B3Z assay were employed to show that exogenous gp96-associated peptide was present in MHC-I molecules via the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi secretory pathway. Results: Compared with the control, gp96 knockdown significantly reduced the cell surface levels of MHC-I by approximately 75% (P < 0.01). Endogenous gp96 interacts with MHC-I and is involved in antigen presentation. Moreover, a weakened antiviral CTL response (34% compared to control mice) has been observed in hepatocyte-specific gp96-deficient mice following HBV infection. gp96 directed exogenous antigen to the ER, and the exogenous gp96-chaperoned peptide was endosome- and proteasome-dependent but not transporter associated with antigen processing dependent. Conclusions: Cellular gp96 promotes the assembly and antigen presentation of MHC class I molecules. In addition, extracellular gp96 served as a natural adjuvant to induce a CTL response in a concerted and regulated manner within different cellular compartments. Our results elucidate the mechanism of assembly of MHC class I molecules by gp96, which may be beneficial for the design of immunotherapy and vaccines.

Thymoproteasome-Expressing Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Confer Protective Anti-Tumor Immunity via Cross-Priming of Endogenous Dendritic Cells.

Proteasomes are complex macromolecular structures existing in various forms to regulate a myriad of cellular processes. Besides degrading unwanted or misfolded proteins (proteostasis), distinct immune functions were ascribed for the immunoproteasome and thymoproteasome (TPr) complexes. For instance, antigen degradation during ongoing immune responses mainly relies on immunoproteasome activity, whereas intrathymic CD8 T-cell development requires peptide generation by the TPr complex. Despite these substantial differences, the functional contribution of the TPr to peripheral T-cell immunity remains ill-defined. We herein explored whether the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) engineered to exhibit altered proteasomal activity through de novo expression of the TPr complex can be exploited as a novel anti-cancer vaccine capable of triggering potent CD8 T-cell activation. Phenotypic and molecular characterization of MSC-TPr revealed a substantial decrease in MHCI (H2-Kb and H2-Dd) expression along with elevated secretion of various chemokines (CCL2, CCL9, CXCL1, LIX, and CX3CL1). In parallel, transcriptomic analysis pinpointed the limited ability of MSC-TPr to present endogenous antigens, which is consistent with their low expression levels of the peptide-loading proteins TAP, CALR, and PDAI3. Nevertheless, MSC-TPr cross-presented peptides derived from captured soluble proteins. When tested for their protective capacity, MSC-TPr triggered modest anti-tumoral responses despite efficient generation of effector memory CD4 and CD8 T cells. In contrast, clodronate administration prior to vaccination dramatically enhanced the MSC-TPr-induced anti-tumoral immunity clearly highlighting a refractory role mediated by phagocytic cells. Thus, our data elute to a DC cross-priming-dependant pathway in mediating the therapeutic effect of MSC-TPr.

Divergent Peptide Presentations of HLA-A*30 Alleles Revealed by Structures With Pathogen Peptides

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles have a high degree of polymorphism, which determines their peptide-binding motifs and subsequent T-cell receptor recognition. The simplest way to understand the cross-presentation of peptides by different alleles is to classify these alleles into supertypes. A1 and A3 HLA supertypes are widely distributed in humans. However, direct structural and functional evidence for peptide presentation features of key alleles (e.g., HLA-A*30:01 and -A*30:03) are lacking. Herein, the molecular basis of peptide presentation of HLA-A*30:01 and -A*30:03 was demonstrated by crystal structure determination and thermostability measurements of complexes with T-cell epitopes from influenza virus (NP44), human immunodeficiency virus (RT313), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). When binding to the HIV peptide, RT313, the PΩ-Lys anchoring modes of HLA-A*30:01, and -A*30:03 were similar to those of HLA-A*11:01 in the A3 supertype. However, HLA-A*30:03, but not -A*30:01, also showed binding with the HLA*01:01-favored peptide, NP44, but with a specific structural conformation. Thus, different from our previous understanding, HLA-A*30:01 and -A*30:03 have specific peptide-binding characteristics that may lead to their distinct supertype-featured binding peptide motifs. Moreover, we also found that residue 77 in the F pocket was one of the key residues for the divergent peptide presentation characteristics of HLA-A*30:01 and -A*30:03. Interchanging residue 77 between HLA-A*30:01 and HLA-A*30:03 switched their presented peptide profiles. Our results provide important recommendations for screening virus and tumor-specific peptides among the population with prevalent HLA supertypes for vaccine development and immune interventions.

Impact of the TAP-like transporter in antigen presentation and phagosome maturation

Cross-presentation is thought to require transport of proteasome-generated peptides by the TAP transporters into MHC class I loading compartments for most antigens. However, a proteasome-dependent but TAP-independent pathway has also been described. Depletion of the pool of recycling cell surface MHC class I molecules available for loading with cross-presented peptides might partly or largely account for the critical role of TAP in cross-presentation of phagocytosed antigens. Here we examined a potential role of the homodimeric lysosomal TAP-like transporter in cross-presentation and in presentation of endogenous peptides by MHC class II molecules. We find that TAP-L is strongly recruited to dendritic cell phagosomes at a late stage, when internalized antigen and MHC class I molecules have been degraded or sorted away from phagosomes. Cross-presentation of a receptor-targeted antigen in vitro and of a phagocytosed antigen in vivo, as well as presentation of a cytosolic antigen by MHC class II molecules, is not affected by TAP-L deficiency. However, accumulation in vitro of a peptide optimally adapted to TAP-L selectivity in purified phagosomes is abolished by TAP-L deficiency. Unexpectedly, we find that TAP-L deficiency accelerates phagosome maturation, as reflected in increased Lamp2b recruitment and enhanced proteolytic degradation of phagocytosed antigen and in vitro transported peptides. Although additional experimentation will be required to definitely conclude on the role of TAP-L in transport of peptides presented by MHC class I and class II molecules, our data suggest that the principal role of TAP-L in dendritic cells may be related to regulation of phagosome maturation.

Role of MDA5 and interferon-I in dendritic cells for T cell expansion by anti-tumor peptide vaccines in mice.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are effective components of the immune system capable of destroying tumor cells. Generation of CTLs using peptide vaccines is a practical approach to treat cancer. We have previously described a peptide vaccination strategy that generates vast numbers of endogenous tumor-reactive CTLs after two sequential immunizations (prime-boost) using poly-ICLC adjuvant, which stimulates endosomal toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and cytoplasmic melanoma differentiation antigen 5 (MDA5). Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role not only in antigen presentation but are critical in generating costimulatory cytokines that promote CTL expansion. Poly-ICLC was shown to be more effective than poly-IC in generating type-I interferon (IFN-I) in various DC subsets, through its enhanced ability to escape theendosomal compartment and stimulate MDA5. In our system, IFN-I did not directly function as a T cell costimulatory cytokine, but enhanced CTL expansion through the induction of IL15. With palmitoylated peptide vaccines, CD8α+ DCs were essential for peptide crosspresentation. For vaccine boosts, non-professional antigen-presenting cells were able to present minimal epitope peptides, but DCs were still required for CTL expansions through the production of IFN-I mediated by poly-ICLC. Overall, these results clarify the roles of DCs, TLR3, MDA5, IFN-I and IL15 in the generation of vast and effective antitumor CTL responses using peptide and poly-IC vaccines.

Regulation of the Cell Biology of Antigen Cross-Presentation.

Antigen cross-presentation is an adaptation of the cellular process of loading MHC-I molecules with endogenous peptides during their biosynthesis within the endoplasmic reticulum. Cross-presented peptides derive from internalized proteins, microbial pathogens, and transformed or dying cells. The physical separation of internalized cargo from the endoplasmic reticulum, where the machinery for assembling peptide-MHC-I complexes resides, poses a challenge. To solve this problem, deliberate rewiring of organelle communication within cells is necessary to prepare for cross-presentation, and different endocytic receptors and vesicular traffic patterns customize the emergent cross-presentation compartment to the nature of the peptide source. Three distinct pathways of vesicular traffic converge to form the ideal cross-presentation compartment, each regulated differently to supply a unique component that enables cross-presentation of a diverse repertoire of peptides. Delivery of centerpiece MHC-I molecules is the critical step regulated by microbe-sensitive Toll-like receptors. Defining the subcellular sources of MHC-I and identifying sites of peptide loading during cross-presentation remain key challenges.

Innate immune receptors for cross-presentation: The expanding role of NLRs

A critical role of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is to influence adaptive immune responses by regulating antigen presentation. Engagement of PRRs in dendritic cells (DCs) increases MHC class I antigen presentation and CD8+ T-cell activation by cross-presented peptides but the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are not completely understood. Studies looking at the role of PRRs in cross-presentation have been largely limited to TLRs but the role of other PRRs such as cytosolic nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like (NOD-like) receptors remains particularly enigmatic. Here we discuss recent evidence of the role of PRRs on cross-presentation and consider how cytosolic NLR-associated pathways, such as NOD2, may integrate these signals resulting in effective adaptive CD8+ T cells responses.

Cross-Presentation Is a Source of Tumor Antigens for Multiple Myeloma Immunotherapy

IntroductionMultiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable and accounts for 20% of deaths from hematologic malignancies. Immune modulating drugs and immunotherapy have been shown to be beneficial in MM patients, highlighting the importance of the immune system in MM. The success of these interventions relies on the unique ability of the immune system to specifically distinguish between MM and normal cells. One example involves the use of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) that eliminate cancer cells by recognizing tumor specific antigens (TSA) that are presented on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on the tumor cells. TSA are presented on HLA class I via the canonical antigen-processing pathway, which causes the tumor cells to become targets for killing by CTL. On the other hand, exogenous antigens are typically presented on HLA class II molecules. Through cross-presentation, exogenous antigens are taken up and presented on HLA class I molecules. We have recently identified cross-presentation as a mechanism by which tumor cells, including MM, present exogenous antigens, leading to an expanded repertoire of possible tumor antigens that can be targeted. Here we demonstrate that targeting cross-presented antigens is a feasible immunotherapeutic strategy in MM. To this end, we used the anti-PR1/HLA-A2 antibody, 8F4, which effectively eliminates PR1/HLA-A2-expressing tumor cells, and identified novel cross-presented antigens.Experimental designNSG mice were sublethally irradiated with 200 Rad. After 24 hours, 2x106 U266 cells transduced with luciferase/GFP were IV injected. Engraftment was confirmed by measuring human IgE in the mouse serum by ELISA and bioluminescent imaging (BLI). Mice were treated with 8F4 (10 mg/kg), IgG isotype control (10 mg/kg) or PBS. Mice were sacrificed on week 9, bone marrow was harvested and analyzed by flow cytometry.To identify novel cross-presented antigens, polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) were isolated from HLA-A2- healthy donors. PMN were lysed and cultured with U266 cells for 24 hours at a 2:1 PMN:U266 cell ratio. U266 cells were lysed, incubated with anti-HLA-ABC antibody and protein-A/G-sepharose beads. Immunoprecipitated proteins were recovered by mild acid elution and peptides were discovered using tandem mass spectrometry. HLA-A2 specific peptides with strong predicted in silico binding were analyzed using the HLArestrictor 1.2 algorithm.Antigen processing machinery (APM) of primary patient samples were analyzed using western blots.Results8F4 treated mice showed a 2 fold decrease in the percent of U266 in the bone marrow compared to isotype and untreated mice (P<0.05) (Figure 1). ELISA demonstrated approximately a 3-fold decrease in human IgE ng/mL in serum of mice treated with 8F4 (P<0.001). BLI quantification showed approximately a 0.5 fold decrease in total flux (p/s) in mice treated with 8F4 compared to isotype and untreated mice. In addition to illustrating the therapeutic potential of targeting PR1, we also sought to identify other cross-presented MM peptides. Initially, over 4x103 total peptides were discovered by mass spectrometry (Figure 2). Using our reality score indexing and bioinformatics we identified approximately 5x102 unique, high confidence, cross-presented peptides. Our top candidate peptides have predicted HLA-A2 binding affinities of <18 nM, ion scores >21, retention time >30.42 minutes, and are rank 1 for their spectral matches. Since we have demonstrated the capability of MM to cross-present antigens, we investigated whether the APM was dysregulated in MM patients. Patients show dysregulation in tapasin, LMP2/7, and calnexin by western blot analysis.ConclusionCollectively, our data demonstrate that the MM antigen repertoire is much larger than previously appreciated, and that there is a new catalogue of potential immunotherapeutic targets in MM derived from exogenous antigens. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresSergeeva:Astellas Pharma: Patents & Royalties. Molldrem:Astellas Pharma: Patents & Royalties.

Intracellular recycling and cross‐presentation by MHC class I molecules

Cross-presentation of internalized antigens by dendritic cells requires efficient delivery of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules to peptide-loading compartments. Strong evidence suggests that such loading can occur outside of the endoplasmic reticulum; however, the trafficking pathways and sources of class I molecules involved are poorly understood. Examination of non-professional, non-phagocytic cells has revealed a clathrin-independent, Arf6-dependent recycling pathway likely traveled by internalized optimally loaded (closed) class I molecules. Some closed and all open MHC class I molecules travel to late endosomes to be degraded but might also partly be re-loaded with peptides and recycled. Studies of viral interference revealed pathways in which class I molecules are directed to degradation in lysosomes upon ubiquitination at the surface, or upon AP-1 and HIV-nef-dependent misrouting from the Golgi network to lysosomes. While many observations made in non-professional cells remain to be re-examined in dendritic cells, available evidence suggests that both recycling and neo-synthesized class I molecules can be loaded with cross-presented peptides. Recycling molecules can be recruited to phagosomes triggered by innate signals such as TLR4 ligands, and may therefore specialize in loading with phagocytosed antigens. In contrast, AP-1-dependent accumulation at, or trafficking through, a Golgi compartment of newly synthesized molecules appears to be important for cross-presentation of soluble proteins and possibly of long peptides that are processed in the so-called vacuolar pathway. However, significant cell biological work will be required to confirm this or any other model and to integrate knowledge on MHC class I biochemistry and trafficking in models of CD8(+) T-cell priming by dendritic cells.

TLR Signals Induce Phagosomal MHC-I Delivery from the Endosomal Recycling Compartment to Allow Cross-Presentation

Adaptation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathway for MHC class I (MHC-I) presentation in dendritic cells enables cross-presentation of peptides derived from phagocytosed microbes, infected cells, or tumor cells to CD8 T cells. How these peptides intersect with MHC-I molecules remains poorly understood. Here, we show that MHC-I selectively accumulate within phagosomes carrying microbial components, which engage Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. Although cross-presentation requires Sec22b-mediated phagosomal recruitment of the peptide loading complex from the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), this step is independent of TLR signaling and does not deliver MHC-I. Instead, MHC-I are recruited from an endosomal recycling compartment (ERC), which is marked by Rab11a, VAMP3/cellubrevin, and VAMP8/endobrevin and holds large reserves of MHC-I. While Rab11a activity stocks ERC stores with MHC-I, MyD88-dependent TLR signals drive IκB-kinase (IKK)2-mediated phosphorylation of phagosome-associated SNAP23. Phospho-SNAP23 stabilizes SNARE complexes orchestrating ERC-phagosome fusion, enrichment of phagosomes with ERC-derived MHC-I, and subsequent cross-presentation during infection.

Bee Venom Phospholipase A2, a Good "Chauffeur" for Delivering Tumor Antigen to the MHC I and MHC II Peptide-Loading Compartments of the Dendritic Cells: The Case of NY-ESO-1.

Bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) is a small, 15kDa enzyme which hydrolyses many phospholipids through interfacial binding. The mutated bvPLA2H34Q (bvPLA2m), in which histidine-34 is replaced by glutamine, is not catalytically active. This protein has been shown to be a suitable membrane anchor and has been suggested as a suitable tumor-antigen vector for the development of novel dendritic cell-based vaccines. To confirm this feature, in this study the fusion protein PNY, composed of NY-ESO-1(NY(s)) fused to the C-terminus of bvPLA2m, was engineered. bvPLA2m enhanced the binding of NY(s) to the membrane of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and, once taken up by the cells, the antigen fused to the vector was directed to both MHC I and MHC II peptide-loading compartments. bvPLA2m was shown to increase the cross-presentation of the NY(s)-derived, restricted HLA-A*02 peptide, NY-ESO-1157-165(NY157-165), at the T1 cell surface. DCs loaded with the fusion protein induced cross-priming of NY(s)-specific CD8 + T-cells with greater efficiency than DCs loaded with NY(s). Sixty-five percent of these NY(s)-specific CD8+ T-cell lines could also be activated with the DCs pulsed with the peptide, NY157-165. Of these CD8+ T-cell lines, two were able to recognize the human melanoma cell line, SK-MEL-37, in a context of HLA-A*02. Only a small number of bvPLA2m CD8+ T-cell lines were induced, indicating the low immunogenicity of the protein. It was concluded that bvPLA2m can be used as a membrane-binding vector to promote MHC class II peptide presentation and MHC class I peptide cross-presentation. Such a system can, therefore, be tested for the preparation of cell-based vaccines.

Sortase-mediated modification of αDEC205 affords optimization of antigen presentation and immunization against a set of viral epitopes

A monoclonal antibody against the C-type lectin DEC205 (αDEC205) is an effective vehicle for delivery of antigens to dendritic cells through creation of covalent αDEC205-antigen adducts. These adducts can induce antigen-specific T-cell immune responses or tolerance. We exploit the transpeptidase activity of sortase to install modified peptides and protein-sized antigens onto the heavy chain of αDEC205, including linkers that contain nonnatural amino acids. We demonstrate stoichiometric site-specific labeling on a scale not easily achievable by genetic fusions (49 distinct fusions in this report). We conjugated a biotinylated version of a class I MHC-restricted epitope to unlabeled αDEC205 and monitored epitope generation upon binding of the adduct to dendritic cells. Our results show transfer of αDEC205 heavy chain to the cytoplasm, followed by proteasomal degradation. Introduction of a labile dipeptide linker at the N terminus of a T-cell epitope improves proteasome-dependent class I MHC-restricted peptide cross-presentation when delivered by αDEC205 in vitro and in vivo. We also conjugated αDEC205 with a linker-optimized peptide library of known CD8 T-cell epitopes from the mouse γ-herpes virus 68. Animals immunized with such conjugates displayed a 10-fold reduction in viral load.

Conventional Dendritic Cells Require IRAP-Rab14 Endosomes for Efficient Cross-Presentation

Dendritic cells (DCs) use cellular pathways collectively referred to as cross-presentation to stimulate CD8(+) T cells with peptide Ags derived from internalized, exogenous Ags. We have recently reported that DCs rely on aminoterminal trimming of cross-presented peptides by insulin-responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP), an enzyme localized in a regulated endosomal storage compartment. Considering a report contending that this role is limited to inflammatory DCs (Segura et al. 2009. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106: 20377-20381), in this study, we examined the role of IRAP in steady-state DC subpopulations. Steady-state conventional DCs (cDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs expressed similar amounts of IRAP. IRAP colocalized with the endosomal markers Rab14 and syntaxin 6, both known to be associated with regulated endosomal storage compartments, in CD8(+) and CD8(-) cDCs-however, to a greater extent in the former population. Likewise, IRAP recruitment to phagosomes was significantly stronger in CD8(+) DCs. IRAP deficiency compromised cross-presentation of soluble and particulate Ag by both CD8(+) and CD8(-) cDCs, again with a stronger effect in the former population. Thus, the requirement of IRAP in cross-presentation extends to steady-state cDCs. Moreover, these data suggest that increased recruitment of an IRAP(+)/Rab14(+) compartment to Ag-containing vesicles contributes to the superior cross-presentation efficacy of CD8(+) cDCs.

Intracellular events regulating cross-presentation

Cross-presentation plays a fundamental role in the induction of CD8-T cell immunity. However, although more than three decades have passed since its discovery, surprisingly little is known about the exact mechanisms involved. Here we give an overview of the components involved at different stages of this process. First, antigens must be internalized into the cross-presenting cell. The involvement of different receptors, method of antigen uptake, and nature of the antigen can influence intracellular trafficking and access to the cross-presentation pathway. Once antigens access the endocytic system, different requirements for endosomal/phagosomal processing arise, such as proteolysis and reduction of disulfide bonds. The majority of cross-presented peptides are generated by proteasomal degradation. Therefore, antigens must cross a membrane barrier in a manner analogous to the fate of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that are retrotranslocated into the cytosol for degradation. Indeed, some components of the ER-associated degradation machinery have been implicated in cross-presentation. Further complicating the matter, endosomal and phagosomal compartments have been suggested as alternative sites to the ER for loading of peptides on major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Finally, the antigen presenting cells involved, particularly dendritic cell subsets and their state of maturation, influence the efficiency of cross-presentation.

The Role of Insulin-Regulated Aminopeptidase in MHC Class I Antigen Presentation

Production of MHC-I ligands from antigenic proteins generally requires multiple proteolytic events. While the proteolytic steps required for antigen processing in the endogenous pathway are clearly established, persisting gaps of knowledge regarding putative cross-presentation compartments have made it difficult to map the precise proteolytic events required for generation of cross-presented antigens. It is only in the past decade that the importance of aminoterminal trimming as the final step in the endogenous presentation pathway has been recognized and that the corresponding enzymes have been described. This review focuses on the aminoterminal trimming of exogenous cross-presented peptides, with particular emphasis on the identification of insulin responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP) as the principal trimming aminopeptidase in endosomes and phagosomes.

Structural basis of cross-allele presentation by HLA-A*0301 and HLA-A*1101 revealed by two HIV-derived peptide complexes

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are initially classified by serotyping but recently can be re-grouped by their peptide-presentation characteristics into supertypes. Both HLA-A*0301 and HLA-A*1101 are grouped into A3 supertype. Although a number of cross-presented T cell epitopes of HLA-A*0301 and HLA-A*1101 have been identified, the molecular mechanisms of cross-presentation remain elusive. Herein, the structures of HLA-A*0301 with two HIV-derived immunodominant T cell epitopes were solved and their characteristics in comparison with HLA-A*1101 presenting the same peptides were analyzed. The comparable structures of HLA-A*0301 and HLA-A*1101 with subtle differences illustrate the common modes of cross-presented peptides and the strict HLA-restriction of T cell receptor (TCR)-recognition.

Re-Examination of CD91 Function in GRP94 (Glycoprotein 96) Surface Binding, Uptake, and Peptide Cross-Presentation

GRP94 (gp96)-peptide complexes can be internalized by APCs and their associated peptides cross-presented to yield activation of CD8(+) T cells. Investigations into the identity (or identities) of GRP94 surface receptors have yielded conflicting results, particularly with respect to CD91 (LRP1), which has been proposed to be essential for GRP94 recognition and uptake. To assess CD91 function in GRP94 surface binding and endocytosis, these parameters were examined in mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell lines whose expression of CD91 was either reduced via RNA interference or eliminated by genetic disruption of the CD91 locus. Reduction or loss of CD91 expression abrogated the binding and uptake of receptor-associated protein, an established CD91 ligand. Surface binding and uptake of an N-terminal domain of GRP94 (GRP94.NTD) was unaffected. GRP94.NTD surface binding was markedly suppressed after treatment of MEF cell lines with heparin, sodium chlorate, or heparinase II, demonstrating that heparin sulfate proteoglycans can function in GRP94.NTD surface binding. The role of CD91 in the cross-presentation of GRP94-associated peptides was examined in the DC2.4 dendritic cell line. In DC2.4 cells, which express CD91, GRP94.NTD-peptide cross-presentation was insensitive to the CD91 ligands receptor-associated protein or activated α(2)-macroglobulin and occurred primarily via a fluid-phase, rather than receptor-mediated, uptake pathway. These data clarify conflicting data on CD91 function in GRP94 surface binding, endocytosis, and peptide cross-presentation and identify a role for heparin sulfate proteoglycans in GRP94 surface binding.

In Vivo Requirement for Atg5 in Antigen Presentation by Dendritic Cells

Autophagy is known to be important in presentation of cytosolic antigens on MHC class II (MHC II). However, the role of autophagic process in antigen presentation in vivo is unclear. Mice with dendritic cell (DC)-conditional deletion in Atg5, a key autophagy gene, showed impaired CD4(+) T cell priming after herpes simplex virus infection and succumbed to rapid disease. The most pronounced defect of Atg5(-/-) DCs was the processing and presentation of phagocytosed antigens containing Toll-like receptor stimuli for MHC class II. In contrast, cross-presentation of peptides on MHC I was intact in the absence of Atg5. Although induction of metabolic autophagy did not enhance MHC II presentation, autophagic machinery was required for optimal phagosome-to-lysosome fusion and subsequent processing of antigen for MHC II loading. Thus, our study revealed that DCs utilize autophagic machinery to optimally process and present extracellular microbial antigens for MHC II presentation.

Functional expression of the alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor CD91 in salivary gland epithelial cells

CD91 molecule is a multifunctional receptor of alpha 2-macroglobulin, heat-shock proteins and calreticulin. CD91 has been implicated in cross-presentation of peptides chaperoned by these proteins to MHC molecules, thus eliciting antigen-specific immune responses. Hence, CD91 is considered as a major regulator of innate and acquired immune responses. Herein, we show that CD91 molecules are expressed by human salivary gland epithelial cells (SGEC), as indicated by immunohistochemical studies in minor salivary gland biopsy tissues ( n = 21) as well as by the analyses of human long-term cultured non-neoplastic SGEC lines ( n = 11) and the neoplastic HSG cell line. In these cell lines CD91 expression was evaluated by RT-PCR, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Standard internalization assays revealed that HSG and SGECs are capable to bind and internalize the CD91 ligand alpha 2-macroglobulin. This internalization is specific, as attested by inhibition studies using unlabeled alpha 2-macroglobulin and a blocking antibody against human CD91 receptor. Conclusively, our findings indicate that SGEC functionally express CD91 receptor, suggesting that this pathway might be involved in the presentation of exogenous antigens in SGEC.