Accelerated antigen presentation and elicitation of humoral response in vivo by FcgammaRIIB- and FcgammaRI/III-mediated immune complex uptake

Cell Immunol. 2003 Sep;225(1):21-32. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2003.09.008.

Abstract

It is well established that activating-type Fc receptors for IgG (FcgammaR), such as FcgammaRI and FcgammaRIII, are essential for inducing inflammatory responses, whereas a unique inhibitory FcgammaR, FcgammaRIIB, inhibits intracellular signaling upon ligation of IgG-immune complexes, and can suppress inflammation and autoimmunity. Although antigen presentation is a crucial step for evoking inflammatory responses, the contribution of FcgammaRIIB to antigen presentation is controversial as to whether it regulates antigen-presenting cells (APC), particularly dendritic cells (DC), positively or negatively. In the present report, we show that the antigen targeting to both activating-type FcgammaRs, FcgammaRI/III, and inhibitory FcgammaRIIB on bone marrow-derived DC and macrophages and primary epidermal Langerhans' cells augmented T cell proliferation in vitro and elicited humoral responses upon adoptive transfer of the antigen-pulsed DC. The DC lacking FcgammaRIIB showed a reduction in IC-uptake ability and a decreased T-cell stimulation, and induced less efficient IgG production than those of DC from wild-type mice. On the other hand, the DC lacking FcR common gamma subunit, which only expresses FcgammaRIIB, showed significant up-regulations of IC-uptake, T-cell proliferation, and IgG production compared to those of FcgammaR null DC, demonstrating a positive regulation of FcgammaRIIB for the efficient antigen presentation of IgG-complexed antigens. These results support the therapeutic benefits of antigen-targeting to FcgammaR on APC in the various inflammatory disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex / immunology*
  • Antigens, CD / immunology*
  • Cell Division
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Receptors, IgG / immunology*
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Antigens, CD
  • Fc gamma receptor IIB
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, IgG
  • Ovalbumin