T cells induce extended class II MHC compartments in dendritic cells in a Toll-like receptor-dependent manner

J Immunol. 2003 Oct 15;171(8):4081-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.171.8.4081.

Abstract

Interaction of Ag-loaded dendritic cells with Ag-specific CD4 T cells induces the formation of long tubular class II MHC-positive compartments that polarize toward the T cell. We show involvement of a Toll-like receptor-mediated signal in this unusual form of intracellular class II MHC trafficking. First, wild-type dendritic cells loaded with LPS-free Ag failed to show formation of class II-positive tubules upon Ag-specific T cell engagement, but did so upon supplementation of the Ag with low concentrations of LPS. Second, Ag-loaded myeloid differentiation factor 88 -deficient dendritic cells failed to form these tubules upon interaction with T cells, regardless of the presence of LPS. Finally, inclusion of a cell-permeable peptide that blocks TNFR-associated factor 6 function, downstream of myeloid differentiation factor 88, blocked T cell-dependent tubulation. A Toll-like receptor-dependent signal is thus required to allow Ag-loaded dendritic cells to respond to T cell contact by formation of extended endosomal compartments. This activation does not result in massive translocation of class II MHC molecules to the cell surface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Endocytosis / genetics
  • Endocytosis / immunology
  • Endosomes / immunology
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / biosynthesis*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism
  • Interphase / immunology
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Proteins / physiology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / deficiency
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • Toll-Like Receptors

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • I-A(b) antigen, mouse
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Peptides
  • Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins