Dependence of antibody-mediated presentation of antigen on FcRn.

Qiao, Shuo-Wang; Kobayashi, Kanna; Johansen, Finn-Eirik; Sollid, Ludvig M; Andersen, Jan Terje; Milford, Edgar; Roopenian, Derry C; Lencer, Wayne I et al. · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2008

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The neonatal Fc receptor for IgG (FcRn) is a distant member of the MHC class I protein family. It binds IgG and albumin in a pH-dependent manner and protects these from catabolism by diverting them from a degradative fate in lysosomes. In addition, FcRn-mediated IgG transport across epithelial barriers is responsible for the transmission of IgG from mother to infant and can also enhance IgG-mediated antigen uptake across mucosal epithelia. We now show a previously undescribed role for FcRn in mediating the presentation of antigens by dendritic cells when antigens are present as a complex with antibody by uniquely directing multimeric immune complexes, but not monomeric IgG, to lysosomes.

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