Langerin-mediated internalization of a modified peptide routes antigens to early endosomes and enhances cross-presentation by human Langerhans cells

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Abstract

The potential of the skin immune system to generate immune responses is well established, and the skin is actively exploited as a vaccination site. Human skin contains several antigen-presenting cell subsets with specialized functions. In particular, the capacity to cross-present exogenous antigens to CD8+ T cells is of interest for the design of effective immunotherapies against viruses or cancer. Here, we show that primary human Langerhans cells (LCs) were able to cross-present a synthetic long peptide (SLP) to CD8+T cells. In addition, modification of this SLP using antibodies against the receptor langerin, but not dectin-1, further enhanced the cross-presenting capacity of LCs through routing of internalized antigens to less proteolytic early endosome antigen 1+early endosomes. The potency of LCs to enhance CD8+T-cell responses could be further increased through activation of LCs with the toll-like receptor 3 ligand polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (pI:C). Altogether, the data provide evidence that human LCs are able to cross-present antigens after langerin-mediated internalization. Furthermore, the potential for antigen modification to target LCs specifically provides a rationale for generating effective anti-tumor or anti-viral cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)360-370
Number of pages11
JournalCellular Immunology
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2017

Keywords

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens
  • Antigens, CD
  • Cell Compartmentation
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cross-Priming
  • Endocytosis
  • Endosomes
  • Humans
  • Journal Article
  • Langerhans Cells
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Ligands
  • Mannose-Binding Lectins
  • Peptides
  • Poly I-C
  • Skin
  • Toll-Like Receptors

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