The oxytocinase subfamily of M1 aminopeptidases, consisting of ER aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1), ER aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2), and insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), plays critical roles in the generation of antigenic peptides and indirectly regulates human adaptive immune responses. We have previously demonstrated that phosphinic pseudotripeptides can constitute potent inhibitors of this group of enzymes. In this study, we used synthetic methodologies able to furnish a series of stereochemically defined phosphinic pseudotripeptides and demonstrate that side chains at P' and P' positions are critical determinants in driving potency and selectivity. We identified low nanomolar inhibitors of ERAP2 and IRAP that display selectivity of more than 2 and 3 orders of magnitude, respectively. Cellular analysis demonstrated that one of the compounds that is a selective IRAP inhibitor can reduce IRAP-dependent but not ERAP1-dependent cross-presentation by dendritic cells with nanomolar efficacy. Our results encourage further preclinical development of phosphinic pseudotripeptides as regulators of adaptive immune responses.

Retention of intracellular Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) in the endoplasmic reticulum prevents their activation under basal conditions. TLR9 is activated by sensing ligands in specific endosomal/lysosomal compartments. Here, we describe the identification of insulin responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP) endosomes as major cellular compartments for the early steps of TLR9 activation in dendritic cells (DCs). Both TLR9 and its ligand CpG were found as cargo in IRAP endosomes. In the absence of IRAP, CpG and TLR9 trafficking to lysosomes and TLR9 signaling were enhanced in DCs and in mice following bacterial infection. IRAP stabilized CpG-containing endosomes by interacting with the actin nucleation factor FHOD4, slowing down TLR9 trafficking towards lysosomes. Thus, endosome retention of TLR9 via IRAP interaction with the actin cytoskeleton is a mechanism that prevents TLR9hyper-activation in DCs. discriminate between different classes of microbial products and initiate specific signaling cascades. While microbial products with no equivalent in mammalian cells, such as the components of the bacterial wall, are recognized by surface TLRs (1, 2, 4, 5 and 6), pathogen derived nucleic acids are sensed by intracellular TLRs (3,7, 8 and 9). Recognition of nucleic acids by intracellular TLRs has the potential to trigger autoimmune diseases through interaction with self nucleic acids 1 . To avoid inappropriate activation of endosomal TLRs, their trafficking is tightly controlled. Thus, in basal conditions the receptors are located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and translocate to endocytic vesicles only after cell stimulation by TLR ligands. Although all intracellular TLRs reside in the ER 2,3 , the trafficking pathways that move the receptors into the endocytic pathway show considerable variation among intracellular TLRs 4-6 . For example, TLR7 traffics from Golgi stacks directly to endosomes using the clathrin adaptor AP4, whereas the TLR9 is directed to the cell surface and reaches the endosomes via AP2-mediated clathrin-dependent endocytosis 6 .In addition to the transfer into the endocytic pathway, a second step that controls the activation of endosomal TLRs is their partial proteolysis by an array of different proteases, specific for each TLR 5,7-12 .Although less often mentioned, the intracellular trafficking of its ligand also controls the activation of TLR9. TLR9 ligands (CpG) are internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis in early endosomes and translocate to late LAMP + compartments 2 . TLR9 activation depends on CpG localization, since the abrogation of CpG translocation to LAMP + compartments by specific inhibitors decreased TLR9 signaling 13,14 . Thus, the intracellular trafficking of both, the ligand and the receptor are essential for the control of TLR9 activation. RESULTS IRAP deletion increases TLR9 responseTo address the role of IRAP in TLRs signaling, wild-type and IRAP-deficient bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were stimulated with specific TLR ligands: polyIC for TLR3, Imiquimod fo...