Antigen presentation: immunologists co-opt cell biology.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Ploegh.
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Many viruses have evolved mechanisms to avoid detection by the host immune system. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) expresses an immediate early protein, ICP47, which blocks presentation of viral peptides to MHC class I-restricted cells. The properties of the newly synthesized class I molecules in HSV-infected cells resemble those of cell lines deficient in the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) in that class I molecules are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, and the heavy chain and beta 2-microglobulin subunits dissociate in detergent extracts but the complex can be stabilized by peptides. We show here that ICP47 binds to TAP and prevents peptide translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum.
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The T lymphocytes of the vertebrate immune system look for changes that take place within the organism by examining a display of peptides at the cell surface. These peptides are presented by the products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). MHC class I products present peptides derived by proteolysis of cytosolic proteins by the multicatalytic protease, the proteasome. These peptides are translocated from the cytosol into the endoplasmic reticulum by a dedicated peptide transporter, the transporter associated with antigen presentation (TAP). TAP consists of two subunits, and translocates peptides that are approximately 8-12 residues in length. The COOH terminal residue of the peptide is a major determinant in the specificity of translocation. Following translocation, peptides bind to MHC class I molecules, which depend on the peptide ligand as well as on interactions with chaperonins for proper folding. These complexes then egress from the ER and are transported to their final destination, the cell surface.
An unusual monoclonal antibody (MARB4) directed against HLA-B27 that reacts with only approximately 5-20% of the cell surface HLA-B27 was used for large-scale purification of these molecules. Subsequent mass spectrometry of HLA-B27-bound peptides showed that the minor MARB4-reactive population contained peptides primarily from 900 to 4000 Da in size (approximately 8-33 amino acid residues), whereas the major HLA-B27 population contained peptides in the mass range of 900-1400 Da (approximately 8-12 amino acid residues). Thus, a subset of HLA-B27 molecules binds to peptides much longer than nonamers. Typical HLA-B27-binding peptides contain arginine in position 2. Further analysis by Edman sequencing of the pooled bound peptides revealed that the major population contained substantial amounts of arginine at positions 1 and 9 (40-50%) and exclusively arginine at position 2, as expected. The minor population of peptides also contained detectable amounts of arginine at these positions, but at the level of only approximately 10%; no marked enrichment at any position was observed. These long HLA-B27-bound peptides could represent either intermediates in the formation of nonamers or adventitiously bound peptides. Lastly, in the TAP2 mutant cell line BM36.1 transfected with HLA-B*2705, MARB4-reactive HLA-B27 molecules were absent from the cell surface, indicating that the peptide transporter was required for delivery of the long peptides. Thus, during the folding of class I heavy chains, peptides of diverse lengths are available and participating.
N-Alkylation of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor 1-deoxynojirimycin (dNM) dramatically increases its inhibitory potency (Tan et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266, 14504-14510, 1991). However, the possibility of extending the alkyl chain to N-decyl-dNM is limited by an increase of detergent-like (amphiphilic) properties of long-chain alkylated dNM derivatives. Substitution of methylene groups in the N-decyl chain by oxygen reduced the amphiphilicity of N-decyl-dNM derivatives, while retaining their superior inhibitory properties. In intact HepG2 cells, the compound N-7-oxadecyl-dNM was found to result in the most pronounced retention of glucose residues on N-linked glycans. Permeabilization of the plasma membrane with the bacterial toxin Streptolysin O improves the inhibitory properties of the derivatives N-3,6,9-trioxadecyl-, N-7,10,13-trioxatetradecyl-, N-3-oxadecyl- and N-7-oxadecyl-dNM, but not those of dNM. These observations suggest differences in the mode of entry of the oxygen-substituted dNM derivatives in comparison with dNM. We observed that the dNM derivative N-3,6,9-trioxadecyl-dNM, devoid of inhibitory activity in intact cells, was inhibitory in Streptolysin O-permeabilized cells. Thus, the permeability barriers posed by plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum membrane are not equivalent. The use of a permeabilized cell system thus allows the elaboration of inhibitory principles for novel bioactive compounds where study of the isolated enzymes may not be possible, and where intact cells are not a suitable target due to permeability barriers.
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The invariant chain (li) has aroused much interest because of its close association with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Various functions have been proposed for it; several of these have received experimental support, but most have not been definitively proven, owing largely to uncertainties inherent in the experimental systems employed. We have now generated a line of mice devoid of the invariant chain by introducing a drastic mutation into the li gene. Cells from mutant animals show aberrant transport of MHC class II molecules, resulting in reduced levels of class II complexes at the surface, and these do not have the typical compact conformation indicative of tight peptide binding. Consequently, mutant cells present protein antigens very poorly and mutant mice are deficient in producing and at negatively selecting CD4+ T cells.
Phosphorylation of membrane glycoproteins has often been invoked as a determinant of receptor internalization and receptor trafficking in a more general sense. Here we have studied the trafficking of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I molecules and transferrin receptor (Tfr) related to their phosphorylation status in the human lymphoblastoid cell line JY. High resolution isoelectric focusing (IEF) allows the visualization of phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated protein species simultaneously, using protein backbone-labeling. Analysis on IEF was combined with a neuraminidase protection assay, in which sialic acid modification of the N-linked glycans present on Tfr and Class I molecules is used as a reporter group for cell surface expression. Phosphorylation of Class I heavy chains and Tfr was induced by exposure of cells to the phorbol ester tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate. We show that 1) phosphorylation of MHC Class I molecules is restricted to the cell surface fraction, 2) phosphorylation of MHC Class I molecules by protein kinase C (PKC) is not correlated with their internalization, as no internalization of Class I molecules, phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated, could be detected, 3) the initial rate, but not the final extent of the internalization of Tfr is affected by activation of PKC, and 4) phosphorylated Tfr behaves in a manner identical to non-phosphorylated Tfr in terms of internalization. The effect of activation of PKC on internalization of Tfr therefore most likely takes place at the level of the internalization machinery. Our data concerning the internalization of MHC Class I molecules contrast with earlier studies describing constitutive internalization in the B lymphoblastoid cell line A 46 and in HPB-ALL cells.
The involvement of GTP-binding proteins in the intracellular transport of the secretory glycoprotein alpha 1-antitrypsin was investigated in streptolysin O-permeabilized HepG2 cells. This permeabilization procedure allows ready access to the intracellular milieu of the membrane-impermeant, nonhydrolyzable GTP analog GTP gamma S. In streptolysin O-permeabilized HepG2 cells, the constitutive secretory pathway remains functional and is sensitive to GTP gamma S. Exposure of HepG2 cells to brefeldin A resulted in redistribution of Golgi-resident glycosyltransferases (including both alpha 2----3 and alpha 2----6 sialyltransferases) to the ER. This redistribution was sensitive to GTP gamma S. Our results suggest that GTP-binding proteins are involved in the regulation not only of the anterograde, but also of the retrograde, pathway.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cells are markedly less sensitive to EBV-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) recognition than EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines of normal B cell origin. Three features of the BL cell phenotype might contribute to this reduced susceptibility: (i) low expression of cell adhesion molecules, (ii) low expression of HLA class I and selective down-regulation of particular alleles, and (iii) down-regulation of all transformation-associated EBV antigens except EBV-encoded nuclear antigen (EBNA)-1. This study assesses the individual importance of each of these features for immune escape. For this purpose the WW1-BL cell line was used which expresses all the known transformation-associated EBV antigens (EBNA-1 to -6 and latent membrane protein-1 and -2) but which is negative for HLA A11 and for the adhesion molecule leukocyte function associated antigen-3 (LFA-3). Using recombinant vectors, these deficiencies have been sequentially corrected and the cells have been tested for sensitivity to EBV (B95.8 strain)-induced CTL preparations recognizing epitope(s) of EBNA-4 in the context of HLA A11. Expression of HLA A11 alone or in combination with LFA-3 did not sensitize WW1-BL cells to these effectors. Lysis was only achieved when HLA A11 was co-expressed with the B95.8 virus-encoded EBNA-4 protein, and in these circumstances sensitization did not require LFA-3. These results indicate that reconstitution of the relevant HLA-EBV epitope target complex on the cell membrane is sufficient to render BL cells sensitive to virus-specific cytolysis. The requirement for EBNA-4 reconstitution to achieve lysis of the WW1-BL/A11 transfectant suggested that the resident WW1 virus-encoded EBNA-4 protein did not contain the relevant target epitope for HLA A11-restricted recognition. This was confirmed by transferring the WW1 virus isolate into another A11-positive B cell background.
The ability of the glucosidase inhibitor 1-deoxynojirimycin (dNM) and a series of N-alkylated dNM derivatives to interfere with biosynthesis, transport, and maturation of the glycoprotein alpha 1-antitrypsin in HepG2 cells was investigated. Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum glucosidase I and II by dNM and its derivatives resulted in an intracellular accumulation of alpha 1-antitrypsin with glucose-containing high mannose type oligosaccharides (precursor). N-alkylation of dNM increased its potency in inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum glucosidases, as determined from the concentration required for half maximal inhibition. N-Alkylated derivatives of dNM were better able to inhibit glucosidase I than glucosidase II (deduced from the number of glucose residues retained in Endo H-releasable oligosaccharides). The inhibition of glucosidase activity imposed by alkylated dNM derivatives was less easily reversed than that by dNM, an effect most pronounced for N-methyl-dNM. Branching of the alkyl group of dNM derivatives decreased the inhibitory potency. Although dNM and its derivatives interfered strongly with intracellular oligosaccharide processing, they did not completely block N-glycan maturation of alpha 1-antitrypsin even at the highest concentrations tested.
Allospecific immune responses against the MHC of another individual are remarkably strong, due t a high number of responding T cell clones. Although it has been demonstrated that some allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize peptides presented by allogeneic MHC class I molecules, it has remained unclear whether MHC molecules can be recognized directly. We used the H-2b-derived murine lymphoma mutant RMA-S, which has a defect affecting peptide loading of class I molecules, to test whether recognition by allospecific CTL always requires the presence of peptides. Three types of anti-H-2Kb CTL clones can be distinguished by their ability to lyse RMA-S target cells. Type A CTL clones efficiently lyse these target cells, the lysis by type B CTL clones is inefficient, and type C clones fail to lyse RMA-S. Up-regulation of the levels of H-2Kb density improved lysis by type B clones, but did not lead to lysis by type C clones. Some type A and B CTL clones apparently can recognize class I molecules devoid of peptides, while others are likely to recognize peptides which are not affected by the presentation defect of RMA-S. We suggest that type C clones are specific for peptides which are not presented by the mutant cells. The results show that the majority of alloreactive CTL recognize peptide/MHC complexes, while some CTL behave as if they can recognize class I molecules in the absence of MHC-bound peptides.
Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in Rat-1 fibroblasts leads to rapid phosphorylation of an 80-kDa protein, a major substrate of PKC. Digitonin-permeabilized cells perfectly supported this early response. Introduction of a PKC pseudosubstrate peptide inhibited 80 kDa phosphorylation with an IC50 of 1 microM, while a control peptide had no effect. The results indicate that this semi-intact cell system can be used in combination with the inhibitory pseudosubstrate peptide to study the involvement of PKC in cellular processes.
The sequence of a feline class I pseudogene and its comparison with class I genes from other species is presented. The gene isolated is a pseudogene because of the presence of four stop codons and two frame shift mutations in the first- and second-domain encoding exons, as well as a mutation in a splice acceptor site in the third intron. By sequence comparison with the other class I sequences determined to date, the FLA pseudogene is most closely related to the HLA-A locus products (88% nucleotide identity.
Experiments in several laboratories have shown that target susceptibility to NK and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cytotoxicity is inversely correlated with the target expression of HLA Class I molecules. We present the first direct evidence, obtained by gene transfection, that target cell HLA, A, B expression increases the resistance to the "so-called" non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity. We have co-transfected, by electroporation, the human beta 2-microglobulin gene and the gene carrying the resistance to geneticin into Daudi cell line. Geneticin selection in culture followed by FACS sorting on the basis of strong positivity with the mAb W6/32 (which is specific for the HLA class I H chain associated to beta 2-microglobulin) have led to the establishment of a HLA+ Daudi cell line permanently expressing HLA A10, A11, and B17 molecules. Studies were performed in vitro to evaluate the susceptibility of these cells to either NK and LAK cytotoxicity. The HLA class I+ Daudi cells exhibit an increased resistance to killing by non-MHC-restricted killer cells (both NK and LAK) as compared with their HLA-Daudi counterpart.