Dendritic cells have the ability to efficiently present internalized antigens on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I molecules. This process is termed cross-presentation and is important role in the generation of an immune response against viruses and tumors, after vaccinations or in the induction of immune tolerance. The molecular mechanisms enabling cross-presentation have been topic of intense debate since many years. However, a clear view on these mechanisms remains difficult, partially due to important remaining questions, controversial results and discussions. Here, we give an overview of the current concepts of antigen cross-presentation and focus on a description of the major cross-presentation pathways, the role of retarded antigen degradation for efficient cross-presentation, the dislocation of antigens from endosomal compartment into the cytosol, the reverse transport of proteasome-derived peptides for loading on MHC I and the translocation of the cross-presentation machinery from the ER to endosomes. We try to highlight recent advances, discuss some of the controversial data and point out some of the major open questions in the field.

The molecular mechanisms regulating noncanonical protein transport across cellular membranes are poorly understood. Crosspresentation of exogenous antigens on MHC I molecules by dendritic cells (DCs) generally requires antigen translocation from the endosomal compartment into the cytosol for proteasomal degradation. In this study, we demonstrate that such translocation is controlled by the endocytic receptor and regulated by ubiquitination. Antigens internalized by the mannose receptor (MR), an endocytic receptor that targets its ligands specifically toward cross-presentation, were translocated into the cytosol only after attachment of a lysin48-linked polyubiquitin chain to the cytosolic region of the MR. Furthermore, we identify TSG101 as a central regulator of MR ubiquitination and antigen translocation. Importantly, we demonstrate that MR polyubiquitination mediates the recruitment of p97, a member of the ER-associated degradation machinery that provides the driving force for antigen translocation, toward the endosomal membrane, proving the central role of the endocytic receptor and its ubiquitination in antigen translocation.

The mannose receptor (MR) is an endocytic receptor involved in serum homeostasis and antigen presentation. Here, we identify the MR as a direct regulator of CD8 + T-cell activity. We demonstrate that MR expression on dendritic cells (DCs) impaired T-cell cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. This regulatory effect of the MR was mediated by a direct interaction with CD45 on the T cell, inhibiting its phosphatase activity, which resulted in up-regulation of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4) and the induction of T-cell tolerance. Inhibition of CD45 prevented expression of B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl-6), a transcriptional inhibitor that directly bound the CTLA-4 promoter and regulated its activity. These data demonstrate that endocytic receptors expressed on DCs contribute to the regulation of T-cell functionality.T he mannose receptor (MR) is an endocytic receptor belonging to the C-type lectin family and is expressed by distinct populations of dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and endothelial cells (1). It consists of an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain (CR), a fibronectin type II (FN II) domain, eight C-type lectinlike domains (CTLDs), a transmembrane region, and a short intracellular region. The CTLDs of the MR can bind to glycoconjugates terminated in mannose, fucose, or glucose. Despite the presence of eight CTLDs, only CTLD4 is responsible for carbohydrate binding. Additionally, the MR can bind to sulfated carbohydrates via its CR and to collagen via its FN II domain (1).In a previous study, we demonstrated that antigens internalized by the MR are processed specifically for cross-presentation (2). The correlation between the MR and cross-presentation offered the possibility that antigens targeted toward the MR could induce potent cytotoxic T-cell responses. Because the induction of a strong cytotoxic T-cell response against tumor-specific antigens is a crucial process in many tumor vaccination strategies, antigen targeting toward the MR seemed to be a promising approach. However, in in vivo tumor models, antigen targeting toward the MR did not result in a strong cytotoxic T-cell response but, instead, led to the induction of antigen-specific T-cell tolerance (3, 4). Therefore, we analyzed whether the MR has a regulatory effect on the induction of immune responses by means distinct from antigen uptake and presentation, and we investigated a direct influence of the MR on T-cell activation. We could demonstrate that the presence of the MR on the antigen-presenting cell (APC) directly impairs the cytotoxic activity of T cells in vitro and in vivo. We showed that this effect was due to a direct interaction of the MR with CD45 on the T-cell surface. This interaction inhibited CD45 activity and resulted in the up-regulation of the inhibitory molecule cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4), which was responsible for the impaired cytotoxic activity of the T cells. ResultsThe Presence of the MR on DCs Reduces Cytotoxic Activity of CD8 + T Cells. To investigate whether the MR influences T-cell ...

Proinflammatory activation of macrophages in metabolic tissues is critically important in the induction of obesity-induced metaflammation. Here, we demonstrate that the soluble mannose receptor (sMR) plays a direct functional role in both macrophage activation and metaflammation. We show that sMR binds CD45 on macrophages and inhibits its phosphatase activity, leading to an Src/Akt/NF-κB–mediated cellular reprogramming toward an inflammatory phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, increased serum sMR levels were observed in obese mice and humans and directly correlated with body weight. Importantly, enhanced sMR levels increase serum proinflammatory cytokines, activate tissue macrophages, and promote insulin resistance. Altogether, our results reveal sMR as regulator of proinflammatory macrophage activation, which could constitute a therapeutic target for metaflammation and other hyperinflammatory diseases.

Tissue osmolarity varies among different organs and can be considerably increased under pathologic conditions. Hyperosmolarity has been associated with altered stimulatory properties of immune cells, especially macrophages and dendritic cells. We have recently reported that dendritic cells upon exposure to hypertonic stimuli shift their profile towards a macrophage-M2-like phenotype, resulting in attenuated local alloreactivity during acute kidney graft rejection. Here, we examined how hyperosmotic microenvironment affects the cross-priming capacity of dendritic cells. Using ovalbumin as model antigen, we showed that exposure of dendritic cells to hyperosmolarity strongly inhibits activation of antigen-specific T cells despite enhancement of antigen uptake, processing and presentation. We identified TRIF as key mediator of this phenomenon. Moreover, we detected a hyperosmolarity-triggered, TRIF-dependent clustering of MHCI loaded with the ovalbumin-derived epitope, but not of overall MHCI molecules, providing a possible explanation for a reduced T cell activation. Our findings identify dendritic cells as important players in hyperosmolarity-mediated immune imbalance and provide evidence for a novel pathway of inhibition of antigen specific CD8+ T cell response in a hypertonic micromilieu.