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MHC Class II Antigen Presentation by Dendritic Cells Regulated through Endosomal Sorting
Toine ten Broeke1, Richard Wubbolts, and Willem Stoorvogel
Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands Correspondence: [email protected]
For the initiation of adaptive immune responses, dendritic cells present antigenic peptides in association with major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) to naı¨ve CD4þ T lympho- cytes. In this review, we discuss how antigen presentation is regulated through intracellular processing and trafficking of MHCII. NewlysynthesizedMHCII is chaperoned bytheinvariant chain to endosomes, where peptides from endocytosed pathogens can bind. In nonactivated dendritic cells, peptide-loaded MHCII is ubiquitinated and consequently sorted by the ESCRT machinery to intraluminal vesicles of multivesicular bodies, ultimately leading to lysosomal degradation. Ubiquitination of newly synthesized MHCII is blocked when den- dritic cells are activated, now allowing its transfer to the cell surface. This mode of regulation for MHCII is a prime example of how molecular processing and sorting at multivesicular bodies can determine the expression of signaling receptors at the plasma membrane.
endritic cells (DCs) are present throughout endocytic pathway, or by proteasomes when Dperipheral tissues, where they constitutive- endocytosed proteins are transferred across the ly sample their environment for the presence endosomal membrane into the cytosol. Thus, of pathogens and diseased cells through uptake generated peptides may associate intracellularly of soluble and particulate matter by endocy- with either MHC class I (MHCI) or MHC class tic mechanisms, including clathrin-mediated II (MHCII) molecules, and in that context can endocytosis, phagocytosis, macropinocytosis, be transferred to and displayed at the plasma and trogocytosis. Trogocytosis refers to uptake membrane. MHC–peptide complexes can be of membrane and associated molecules from recognized by T cells upon migration of DCs one cell by another. After endocytic uptake, to lymphoid tissues (Guermonprez et al. 2002). both environmental “self” proteins and proteins In the absence of danger signals, DCs remain from pathogenic origin can be processed into in a “resting” or “immature” state and display peptides for loading onto major histocompati- endogenous “self” peptides to maintain periph- bility complex (MHC) molecules. Peptides can eral tolerance (Steinman et al. 2003; Schmidt be generated either by lysosomal proteases in the et al. 2012). However, DCs also survey their
1Present address: Laboratory for Translational Immunology, Immunotherapy Laboratory, University Medical Center, Utrecht 3584 EA, The Netherlands. Editors: Sandra L. Schmid, Alexander Sorkin, and Marino Zerial Additional Perspectives on Endocytosis available at www.cshperspectives.org Copyright # 2013 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved; doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a016873 Cite this article as Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2013;5:a016873
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T. ten Broeke et al.
environment with a collection of innate pattern- tide-loaded MHCI is then transported out of recognition receptors (PRRs), including Toll- the ER via the Golgi apparatus to the plasma like receptors (TLR), C-type lectins, and nu- membrane, where it is stably exposed. Infected cleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)–like cells that display pathogen-derived peptides on receptors, which collectively recognize a wide MHCI can be killed by cytotoxic T cells that array of conserved pathogen-associated molec- specifically recognize relevant MHCI–peptide ular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated complexes. A unique feature of DCs is their abil- molecular patterns (DAMPs), with the latter ity to also present peptides from endocytosed representing (altered) “self” molecules that are material via MHCI, a process called “cross-pre- released by dying cells or expressed by tumor sentation.” Cross-presentation by DCs is essen- cells. DCs that are activated through their tial for the activation of naı¨ve T cells to drive PRRs or by inflammatory cytokines differenti- MHCI-restricted immune responses against tu- ate into phenotypes that can stimulate adaptive mor cells and cells other than DCs that are in- immune responses (Reis e Sousa 2006; Joffre fected by pathogens. The mechanisms by which et al. 2009). Characteristic features of DC differ- peptides from exogenouslyacquired proteins are entiation or “maturation” include a transient generated and delivered to MHCI molecules in increase in phagocytosis and macropinocytosis DCs have been discussed elsewhere (Amigorena for efficient antigen uptake, increased surface and Savina 2010; Segura and Villadangos 2011; expression of costimulatory molecules (e.g., Joffre et al. 2012) and are beyond the scope of CD86, CD80, CD40), and enhanced potential this review. to migrate from peripheral tissues to the local Although MHCI is expressed by all cells, lymphoid tissues for interaction with T cells expression of MHCII is restricted mainly to (West et al. 2004; Reis e Sousa 2006). Several “professional” antigen-presenting cells (APCs), other stimuli, for example, TNF-a, can drive al- including DCs, macrophages, and B cells (Guer- ternative DC maturation programs that result monprez et al. 2002; Trombetta and Mellman in tolerogenic rather than immunogenic DCs 2005). However, constitutive MHCII expression (Menges et al. 2002; Tanand O’Neill 2005; Cools by non-APCs in the absence of costimulatory et al. 2007; Maldonado and von Andrian 2010). molecules, for example, by epithelial cells, has MHC molecules direct antigen specificity an important role in maintaining peripheral tol- for adaptive immunity toward invading patho- erance (Krupnick et al. 2005; Kreisel et al. 2010). gens and malignant cells. MHCI on DCs pre- Yet other cell types can be induced to express dominantly helps elimination of infected and MHCII by certain stimuli, for example, by the malignant cells through activation of antigen- cytokine IFN-g (Pober et al. 1983; Geppert specific CD8þ cytotoxic T cells. MHCI-driven and Lipsky 1985; Romieu-Mourez et al. 2007; cell killing by cytotoxic T cells, however, also Mulder et al. 2011). On the transcriptional level, requires licensing by DCs through MHCII-de- MHCII expression is controlled by a complex of pendent activation of CD4þ helper T cells. In DNA-binding proteins, also referred to as the addition, MHCII on DCs serves to mount hu- MHCII enhanceosome, and activation of this meral immune responses and to instruct regu- complex requires association with the MHCII latory T cells and memory T cells. In contrast to transactivator (CIITA) (Jabrane-Ferrat et al. MHCII, MHCI is expressed by nearly all cell 2003; Choi et al. 2011). types, and in nonprofessional antigen-present- Peptides that bind to MHCII molecules are ing cells is exclusively loaded with peptides that generated within the endocytic tract by limited are generated from cytosolic proteins by the proteolysis of endocytosed protein (complexes), ubiquitin/proteasome system. Cytosolic pep- or alternatively, of cytosolic material that en- tides can be translocated into the lumen of the tered the endocytic tract via autophagy (Dengjel endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for loading onto et al. 2005; Crotzer and Blum 2010; Kondylis MHCI with the help of a dedicated peptide- et al. 2013). In professional antigen-presenting loading complex (Cresswell et al. 2005). Pep- cells, the organelles at which MHCII peptide
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Endosomal MHC Class II Processing
loading occurs mainly constitute late endo- antigens. Peptides require, however, specific somes, although lysosomes have also been im- and correctly spaced anchor residues for stable plicated (Geuze 1998). Together,these endocytic binding to a particular haplotype of MHCII. compartments are also referred to as MHCII Individuals express multiple types of the poly- compartments (MIICs) (Peters et al. 1991; Kleij- morphic MHCII complexes (in humans encod- meer et al. 1997, 2001). DCs constitutively syn- ed by the HLA-DR, DP,and DQ loci, and in mice, thesize MHCII, which, in the absence of patho- I-A and I-E), each covering a spectrum of pep- gen, are all loaded with “self” peptides in MIICs. tides. In addition, MHCII polymorphism with- In the absence of danger signals, however, cell- in populations of organisms supplies distinct surface exposure of peptide loaded MHCII peptide-binding specificities that further in- (pMHCII) is generally kept low through rapid crease the potential to fight invading pathogens. sorting to and degradation in lysosomes. Limit- MHCII-associated peptides are largely de- ed exposure of self-peptide-loaded MHCII, in rived from proteins (complexes) that have been the absence of costimulatory signals, provides hydrolyzed in endosomal or lysosomal com- cues that support immune tolerance. Contrary partments (Amigorena et al. 1995; Castellino to immature DCs, activated DCs efficiently con- and Germain 1995; Lutz et al. 1997). Although vert to stable expressors of newly formed MHCII a chains and b chains already assemble pMHCII complexes at their plasma membrane and form peptide-binding sites in the ER, they to increase the chance of interaction with TCRs capture peptides only after arriving at the endo- on CD4þ T cells. The distinctive mechanisms cytic pathway. Premature peptide loading is pre- and pathways for MHCI and MHCII antigen vented by the invariant chain (Ii, also called loading and trafficking have recently been com- CD74) (Teyton et al. 1990; Busch et al. 1996). pared in several excellent reviews (Neefjes et al. Ii bindsthe MHCII peptide-binding groovewith 2011; Blum et al. 2013; Mantegazza et al. 2013). a region in its luminal domain that is called CLIP The present review focuses in depth on mecha- (for class-II-associated invariant chain peptide) nisms and pathways that regulate and determine (Rudensky et al. 1991; Chicz et al. 1992; Riberdy the expression of pMHCII complexes at the plas- et al. 1992; Sette et al. 1992; Freisewinkel et al. ma membrane of DCs. 1993). Normally, Ii is synthesized in excess over MHCII, ensuring Ii rather than peptide binding to MHCII (Kvist et al. 1982; Sekaly et al. 1986; BIOSYNTHESIS OF MHCII Marks et al. 1990; Pieters et al. 1991). Peptides MHCII consists of a noncovalently associated that are transferred into the ER by TAP, for po- complexof two type I transmembrane glycopro- tential binding to MHCI, indeed have poor po- teins, designated a chain and b chain (Fig. 1). tential to bind MHCII (Bikoff et al. 1993; Viville The a chain of MHCII has a molecular weight of et al. 1993; Elliott et al. 1994; Romagnoli and 33–35 kDa and contains two sites for N-linked Germain 1994; Busch et al. 1996). Ii is encoded glycosylation. The b chain has a slightly lower outside the MHC gene region, but its expres- molecular weight of 25–30 kDa and contains sion, like MHCII, is under the control of CIITA one amino-linked glycosylation site. Both (Reith et al. 2005). Ii is a monomorphic type II chains have a short carboxy-terminal cytoplas- transmembrane protein, hence its name, but al- mic and a single transmembrane domain. To- ternative initiation sites and splicing result in gether, their exoplasmic domains form a groove multiple formsthat are named after their relative that can accommodate a large varietyof peptides molecular weight. The shortest form of Ii, p31 in of 13–25 amino acids in length. Longer unfold- mice and p33 in man, is expressed most prom- ed protein stretches have also been shown to inently. Because of alternative splicing, mice and bind, but at low frequencies, and these are prone humans also express p41 and p43, respectively to be trimmed after binding to MHCII (Watts (Strubin et al. 1986; Koch et al. 1987; O’Sullivan 2012). The variance in peptide binding is to en- et al. 1987). The additional sequence in their sure immune responses toward many distinct exoplasmic domain has protease inhibitory ac-
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T. ten Broeke et al.
A Invariant chain
Peptide α1 β1
α β Lumen 2 2
KK K Cytoplasm LLL βα
αβ ( li)3 Peptide-loaded MHC class II complex
αβ B ( li)3 p25 p10 CLIP
Lumen
Cytoplasm Cathepsin S/L/F SPPL2A
Ubiquitinated MHCII
Lumen
Cytoplasm DM
MARCH1 ESCRT DO Ubiquitin
Figure 1. MHCII processing. (A) On the left, a nonameric (abIi)3 MHCII complex with trimerized Ii (green), MHCII a (gray), and b (black). Leucine-based sorting motifs in Ii (L) and the site for MHCII b ubiquitination (K) are indicated. (Gray bar) The membrane. On the right, pMHCII with bound peptide (blue) and the a1, a2, b1, and b2 domains of the a and b chains. (B) Schematic representation of progressive Ii processing, MHCII peptide loading, and ubiquitination. The sites of action for cathepsin S/L/F,SPPL2A, DM, DO, MARCH1, and ESCRT are indicated, and their roles are explained in the text.
tivity especially to the cysteine protease cathep- as an ER-retention motif. After synthesis in the sin L (Koch et al. 1989; Bevec et al. 1996; Mihelicˇ ER, Ii forms trimers in which all forms of Ii can et al. 2008) and influences the antigen-process- be incorporated, although the p31/33 form is ing capacity of endosomes (Peterson and Miller most prominently present (Lamb and Cresswell 1992). In humans, but not in mice,an alternative 1992; Arunachalam et al. 1994). Trimerization start codon provides two additional Ii isoforms, of Ii is promoted by intermolecular associations p35 and p45, carrying a cytoplasmic extension of transmembrane and luminal domains (Bijl- that is shielded only after correct folding of the makers et al. 1994; Gedde-Dahl et al. 1997; MHCII–Ii complex and, when exposed, serves Ashman and Miller 1999). In the ER, three
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Endosomal MHC Class II Processing
MHCII ab heterodimers associate with one Ii endosomes, MHCII is loaded with peptides trimer, generating nonameric (abIi)3 complex- only after Ii is degraded by proteolysis (Jones es (MHCII–Ii) (Fig. 1A) (Lamb and Cresswell et al. 1979; Owen et al. 1981; Charron et al. 1992). MHCII ab dimers are stabilized by asso- 1983; Rudd et al. 1985; Roche and Cresswell ciation with Ii; absence of Ii results in accumu- 1990, 1991; Teyton et al. 1990). Ii is degraded lation of misfolded MHCII molecules in the ER by multiple proteases in defined sequential (Anderson and Miller 1992; Schaiff et al. 1992; cleavage steps, starting at the carboxy-terminal Marks et al 1995). Ii not only assists MHCII luminal domain, until only the CLIP fragment is folding and covers the peptide-binding site of left, still occupying the peptide-binding groove MHCII, but also chaperones MHCIIviathe Gol- of MHCII (Hsing and Rudensky 2005). Inter- gi and trans-Golgi network (TGN) to endo- mediate Ii degradation products ranging from somes (Fig. 2). Both a direct route from the 25 kDa to 10 kDa (p25–p10) have been iden- TGN to endosomes (Neefjes et al. 1990; Benar- tified (Fig. 1B), and these accumulated when och et al. 1995; Warmerdamet al. 1996; Liu et al. proteolytic activity of endosomes was inhibited 1998) and an indirect transport pathway via the (NeefjesandPloegh1992;Amigorenaetal.1995; plasma membrane (Roche et al. 1993; Bremnes Villadangos et al. 2000). Processing of Ii appears et al. 1994; Wang et al. 1997; Dugast et al. 2005; to be based on redundant protease activities McCormick et al. 2005) are involved. Newly syn- (Costantino et al. 2008) with the exception of thesized MHCII–Ii is directed to the endocytic the cleavage of the p10 intermediate degradation system with the aid of two classical leucine- product into CLIP. This requires cathepsin S based sorting motifs (Bonifacino and Traub (Riese et al. 1996; Driessen et al. 1999; Nakagawa 2003) that are embedded within the Ii cytoplas- et al. 1999; Shi et al. 1999) or cathepsins L and F mic domain (Pieters et al. 1993; Odorizzi et al. (Nakagawa et al. 1998; Shi et al. 2000), depend- 1994; Rodionov and Bakke 1998; Hofmann et al. ing on the cell type. Degradation of the remain- 1999). These motifs can interact with the cyto- ing transmembrane fragment requires the intra- solic trans-Golgi-network-associated protein- membrane endopeptidase SPPL2A (Beisner sorting complex AP1 (Salamero et al. 1996) et al. 2013; Bergmann et al. 2013; Schneppen- and with the plasma membrane adaptor AP2 heim et al. 2013). Although early studies pro- (Rodionov and Bakke 1998; Hofmann et al. posed that Ii degradation is regulated and en- 1999). The cytoplasmic extension of the human hanced in response to DC activation (Pierre p35 isoform can be phosphorylated by protein and Mellman 1998), subsequent studies proved kinase C, a requirement that may be essential for that Ii processing is a constitutive process and chaperoning MHCII directly from the TGN to not rate limiting for antigen presentation by endosomes (Spiro and Quaranta 1989; Ander- MHCII (Villadangos et al. 2001, 2005; El-Suk- son and Roche 1998; Anderson et al. 1999), and kari et al. 2003; ten Broeke et al. 2010). in human cells, the AP1-directed pathway may become important particularly during DC mat- PEPTIDE LOADING ONTO MHCII uration (Santambrogio et al. 2005). MHCII–Ii complexes that are deposited on the plasma Newly synthesized MHCII meets its ligands— membrane are rapidly taken up by clathrin-me- peptides that originate from the proteolysis of diated endocytosis, and this process is largely endocytosed antigens—in the same endocytic driven by recognition of the two leucine-based compartment where Ii is also degraded. In DC motifs encoded in the cytoplasmic domain of Ii endosomes and phagosomes, the activity of pH- by the clathrin adaptor AP2 (Dugast et al. 2005; sensitive lysosomal proteases allows hydrolysis McCormick et al. 2005). In any case, MHCII–Ii of endocytosed antigens into peptides, whereas must pass transferrin receptor-positive early full degradation of peptides is prevented by mul- endosomes to reach subsequent endocytic com- tiple mechanisms (Watts 2012). Peptide loading partments where antigen loading occurs (Be- of MHCII generally proceeds only after proteo- naroch et al. 1995; Pond and Watts 1999). In lytic processing of Ii into CLIP.As an exception,
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Immature DC
MHCII-li 6 PM 7
MHCII-CLIP 2 3 MARCH1 4 8
1 MHCII–self peptide TGN 5
Endosomes/MVB MHCII–pathogen peptide
Golgi Ubiquitinated MHCII
Lysosome DM Activated DC
Proteases PM 10
9 Self protein
TGN Pathogen 11
Endosomes/MVB
Lysosome ESCRT
Figure 2. MHCII trafficking. The symbols are explained on the right and are equivalent to those in Figure 1. In immature DCs (top graph), newly synthesized MHC–Ii complexes are transferred via the Golgi and trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the endocytic pathway (1), either directly or via the plasma membrane, driven by leucine- based sorting signals contained within the Ii. In the endosomal system, Ii is degraded constitutively in a stepwise fashion (2), resulting in removal of the Ii-encoded sorting signals. The last remnant of the Ii, CLIP,is substituted by other peptides present within the endosomal lumen, facilitated by DM (3). Once the Ii is removed, pMHCII can be ubiquitinated by MARCH1 (4), driving its sorting to ILVs (5), probably through interactions with ESCRT. pMHCII at the endosomal delimiting membrane may also escape to the plasma membrane (6) from where it can be endocytosed (7) to encounter a new opportunity for sorting into ILVs.pMHCII that is sorted to ILVs is ultimately degraded after fusion of the MVB with the lysosome. Some MHCII may be transferred from the MVB-delimiting membrane to the lysosomal-delimiting membrane and from there to the plasma mem- brane to present lysosomal-generated peptides (8). In activated DCs (bottom graph), biosynthesis of MHC-Ii is temporarily up-regulated (thick arrows). Ii is processed with similar kinetics as in immature DCs, but liberated MHCII dimers are no longer ubiquitinated (9). Consequently, newly generated pMHCII is now redirected via tubular extensions from MIIC to the plasma membrane (10), whereas pMHCII that was already sorted to ILV before DC activation is still directed to lysosomes for degradation (11).
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Endosomal MHC Class II Processing
however, peptide loading onto some MHCII et al. 1995; Kropshofer et al. 1996; Weber et al. haplotypes does not necessarily require full pro- 1996), but the degree of DM requirement for cessing of Ii into CLIP (Villadangos et al. 1997). peptide loading is dependent on the MHCII iso- In MIICs, the exchange of CLIP for other pep- type (Fig. 3) (van Lith et al. 2010). HLA-DM tides is facilitated by the nonclassical MHC mol- (DM) is structurally similar to MHCII but lacks ecule HLA-DM (H2-M in mice) (Denzin and the ability to bind peptides. DM can associate Cresswell 1995; Sherman et al. 1995; Sloan with MHCII to provoke dissociation of low-af-
Lysosome PM
MARCH1
Endosome/ MVB
TGN
Phagosome
Pathogen Signal transduction PRRs
Figure 3. Autonomous function of phagosomes in MHCII processing. The symbols are similar to those in Figures 1 and 2; additional symbols are indicated at the bottom. PRR signaling from phagosomes may stimulate selective recruitment of pMHCII from those compartments to the plasma membrane (bottom structure), hypothetically through interference with MHCII ubiquitination selectively at those phagosomes. Transfer of pMHCII from pathogen-loaded phagosomes to the plasma membrane can occur unidirectionally, for example, toward immunological synapses between DC and T cells. MHCII in MIIC other than phagosomes located within the same cell may still be ubiquitinated and consequently targeted for lysosomal degradation (top structure).
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T. ten Broeke et al.
finity peptides (such as CLIP), after which an- towardthe cell centeralong microtubules (Wub- other peptide can bind (Schulze and Wucherp- bolts et al. 1999) bya dynein motorcomplex that fennig 2012). During such peptide exchange, the is controlled by Rab7-interacting lysosomal pro- MHCII-binding groove is temporarily empty, a tein (RILP) and the cholesterol sensor ORP1L state that is rather unstable and prone to aggre- (Rocha et al. 2009). In immature DCs, MHCII gation (Germain and Rinker 1993; Rabinowitz predominantly resides at late endosomes, which et al. 1998). DM prevents this aggregation and are not typical recycling compartments. Never- stabilizes empty MHCII molecules, keeping theless, both MHCII–Ii and pMHCII can be them in a peptide-receptive state (Kropshofer transported from late endosomes to the plasma et al. 1997; Grotenbreg et al. 2007; Anders et al. membrane via a route that is physically distinct 2011). This important DM-catalyzed editing from earlyendosomal recycling (Pond and Watts process favors the generation of high-affinity 1997) and with kinetics that are in agreement pMHCII complexes and is facilitated by the with other late endosomal recycling pathways acidic milieu in late endosomes. Another non- (Reid and Watts 1990; Pinet et al. 1995; Lindner classical MHC molecule involved in the regula- 2002). In a recent integrated siRNA screen on tion of MHCII antigen presentation is HLA-DO MHCII-expressing melanoma cells (Paul et al. (H2-O in mice) (Denzin et al. 2005; Karlsson 2011), several factors affecting recycling of 2005). Like DM, HLA-DO (DO) is structurally MHCII to the plasma membrane have been similar to MHCII. DO forms stable complexes identified, including the small GTPase ARL14/ with DMdirectly after its synthesis in the ER and ARF7. This GTPase recruits the effector protein is transported as such to the endosomal system ARF7EPonto MIICs, which acts as a receptor for (Liljedahl et al. 1996). DO inhibits the peptide- the actin-based motor protein myosin 1E, puta- editing function of DM (Denzin et al. 1997; van tively driving transport of vesicles containing Ham et al. 1997) particularly at mild acidic pH MHCII from MIIC to the plasma membrane. values (Kropshofer et al. 1998; Liljedahl et al. In maturing DCs, transport of MHCII is medi- 1998; van Ham et al. 2000). DO thus inhibits ated via membrane tubulesthat radiate out from DM function early in the endocytic pathway the MIIC toward the plasma membrane, and but allows peptide editing by DM in more acid- this pathway depends on an intact microtubule ic, late endocytic compartments. In immature network (Kleijmeer et al. 2001; Boes et al. 2002, DCs, DO is thought to increase the range of pre- 2003; Chow et al. 2002; Vyas et al. 2007; van sented peptides, therewith facilitating tolerance Nispen tot Pannerden et al. 2010). MHCII, induction to a broad range of self peptides (Yi DM, and LAMP1 are not enriched in these tu- et al. 2010). DO expression is down-regulated bules relative to the vacuolar endosomes from in activated B cells and DCs, enhancing DM- which they derive, suggesting that this pathway catalyzed peptide loading under inflammatory may not require active recruitment but is entered conditions (Glazier et al. 2002; Hornell et al. by default (Kleijmeer et al. 2001). This is in 2006; Draghi and Denzin 2010; Porter et al. agreement with the finding that traffic of MHCII 2011). to the cell surface does not rely on sorting infor- mation encoded by its cytosolic domains (The´ry et al. 1998). Upon arrival at the cell surface, TRAFFICKING OF PMHCII pMHCII complexes can be endocytosed only As a result of Ii degradation, Ii-encoded sort- to recycle again to the plasma membrane via ing signals are removed, and the nonameric early endocytic compartments (Reid and Watts MHCII–Ii complex (abIi)3 dissociates into 1990, 1992). The latter pathway is extremely rap- MHCII ab dimers. From this point on, MHCII id (Reid and Watts 1990) and potentially may may either be sorted to lysosomes for degrada- provide opportunities for MHCII to also sample tion or be transported to the cell surface (Wub- antigens that differ from those found in the late bolts et al. 1996; The´ry et al. 1998). As endo- endosomal compartments, thereby contribut- somal MIICs mature, they are transported ing to the diversity in antigen presentation
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Endosomal MHC Class II Processing
(Pinet et al. 1995; Lindner and Unanue 1996; Smith 2005), and endocytosis of MHCII was Griffin et al. 1997; Pathak and Blum 2000). severely hampered after treatment of cells with MHCII peptide loading at these alternate loca- Filipin, a cholesterol-sequestering agent (Knorr tions may differ for the requirements of DM or Ii et al. 2009). Perhaps pMHCII uses the clathrin- (Vergelliet al. 1997; Villadangos et al. 2000) and independent carrier (GLIC)/GPI-AP-enriched is more prominent for some MHCII isotypes early endosomal compartment (GEEC) path- (van Lith et al. 2010). way, an endocytosis route that is also used by The mechanism(s) for endocytosis of lipid raft-associated molecules like GPI-linked pMHCII are not well understood. Internaliza- proteins and choleratoxin B (Mayor and Pagano tion was negatively affected by truncation of 2007; Howes et al. 2010). Furthermore, tetraspa- both the cytosolic domains of the a and b chains nin-enriched microdomains have been impli- (Pinet et al. 1995), indicating active recruitment cated in clustering and routing of MHCII from and a role of cytoplasmic domains in endocytic the plasma membrane (Hammond et al. 1998; uptake. A conserved di-leucine motif in the cy- Engering and Pieters 2001; Kropshofer et al. tosolic domain of the b chain was proposed to 2002; Zilber et al. 2005; Poloso et al. 2006; Un- have a role in pMHCII endocytosis (Zhong et al. ternaehrer et al. 2007). Tetraspanins belong to a 1997; Simonsen et al. 1999), although this motif family of proteins that span the membrane four lacks upstream negatively charged amino acids times and are palmitoylated, a posttranslational that are generally thought to be required for in- modification that stimulates lateral partitioning teraction with clathrin adaptors (Bonifacino into protein/lipid domains (Kovalenko et al. and Traub 2003). We and others proposed that 2004; Ya´n˜ez-Mo´ et al. 2009). Most tetraspanins endocytosis of MHCII is facilitated, to a limited contain motifs for clathrin-mediated endocyto- extent, by ubiquitination of the cytoplasmic do- sis (Berditchevski and Odintsova 2007) that po- main of the MHCII b chain (Shin et al. 2006; van tentially could assist the internalization of do- Niel et al. 2006). It should be noted, however, main-associated molecules such as pMHCII. In that the assays used in these and other studies conclusion, although several mechanisms for (Reid and Watts 1990, 1992) on MHCII endo- endocytosis of pMHCII have been proposed, cytosis did not discriminate between MHCII–Ii the exact pathways and dynamics that apply for and pMHCII, nor did they correct for recycling different cell systems remain largely undefined. of endocytosed MHCII. Other studies could not confirm a role for ubiquitination in endocytosis SORTING OF MHCII AT MVBS of pMHCII (Matsuki et al. 2007; Walseng et al. 2010a). Interference with ubiquitination-de- Endosomes generate intraluminal vesicles pendent endosomal sorting may increase recy- (ILVs) that progressively increase in number cling, and this can also impact on the readout of during endosome maturation, giving rise to an endocytosis assays. These experimental prob- eminent multivesicular morphology. Hence, lems were tackled in more recent experiments, this type of late endosomes is also referred to from which we concluded that ubiquitination as a multivesicular endosome or multivesicular has little if any effect on the endocytosis rate of body (MVB) (Piper and Katzmann 2007). pMHCII (T ten Broeke, R Wubbolts, W Stoor- Membrane proteins that are targeted to ILVs vogel, et al., unpubl.). In contrast to MHCII–Ii are ultimately transferred to lysosomes for deg- complexes, pMHCII is endocytosed via clath- radation. Transfer to ILVs also terminates sig- rin- and dynamin-independent pathway(s), naling of plasma membrane receptors, as ex- possibly involving SWAP-70-regulated RhoA/ emplified by receptor tyrosine kinases and RhoB (Ocana-Morgner et al. 2009) or Arf6- G-protein-coupled receptors (Sorkin and von and Rab35-dependent mechanism(s) (Walseng Zastrow 2009). As an alternative for a lysosomal et al. 2008). MHCII is found in detergent-resis- destination, MVBs may fuse with the plasma tant membrane domains (DRMs) (Anderson membrane, thereby releasing their ILVs as exo- et al. 2000; Karacsonyi et al. 2004; Rodgers and somes in the extracellular space (Raposo and
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Stoorvogel 2013). Whereas one set of MVBs (ESCRT) (Raiborg and Stenmark 2009; Hurley serves as a sorting station for membrane pro- 2010; Henne et al. 2011, 2013; Piper et al. 2013). teins to lysosomes, another set of functionally Consistent with its generic role, it can be expect- distinct MVBs is rather destined to release exo- ed that the ESCRTmachinery also drives sorting somes. In DCs, sorting of MHCII at MVBs into of ubiquitinated MHCII into ILVs. Indeed, sev- exosomes is, in contrast to lysosomal targeting, eral ESCRT-associated components, including independent of MHCII ubiquitination and Tollip, were identified to influence MHCII traf- rather correlates with incorporation into tetra- fic (Paul et al. 2011). In support for a role for spanin-containing complexes (Buschow et al. ESCRT,we found that MHCII in DCs is, indeed, 2009). Exosome release was stimulated when enriched in the flat clathrin/ESCRT-0-coated DCs engaged antigen-specific CD4þ T cells lattices at MIICs (van Niel et al. 2008). ILV for- (Buschow et al. 2009). Released exosomes can mation can proceed only after ESCRT disassem- be recruited by such T cells or bystander DCs in bly, and this requires ATPhydrolysis by the class I an LFA-1-dependent manner (Segura et al. AAA ATPase Vps4 complex (Hill and Babst 2007; Nolte-’t Hoen et al. 2009), and in this 2012). Expression of a dominant-negative mu- way, directly or indirectly, contribute to T-cell tant of VPS4 interfered with MHCII sorting (T activation (The´ry et al. 2002a,b). Relative to ma- ten Broeke, R Wubbolts, W Stoorvogel, et al., ture DCs, immature DCs release little MHCII unpubl.). MIICs are composed not only of with exosomes, and by far most of their MVBs MVBs but also of multilamellar compartments. are destined to fuse with lysosomes. At equilib- The latter contain abundant MHCII-labeled in- rium, 60% of all cellular MHCII in immature ternal membrane sheets, and high-resolution DCs are located at MVBs, of which 80% are at three-dimensional (3D) analysis of these com- ILVs, consistent with active recruitment of partments suggests that they represent lysosom- MHCII into ILVs (Kleijmeer et al. 2001; ten al compartments with MHCII trapped on their Broeke et al. 2011). Indeed, the density of inner membranes, possibly in the process of be- MHCII (molecules/micrometers squared) is ing degraded (Murk et al. 2004). much higher on ILVs than on the MVB-delim- Activation of conventional DCs (cDCs) iting membrane (Kleijmeer et al. 2001). We and strongly reduces ubiquitination of MHCII, in- others reported that MHCII in immature DCs is tervening with its targeting to ILVs (Shin et al. ubiquitinated at a unique lysine residue at po- 2006; van Niel et al. 2006; De Gassart et al. 2008; sition 225 in the cytoplasmic domain of MHCII Walseng et al. 2010b). Reduction in ILV target- b, and this modification was identified as a key ing leads to rerouting of pMHCII to the cell regulator of MHCII surface expression and surface, possibly by default (see above), there- stability (Ohmura-Hoshino et al. 2006; Shin with elevating expression levels at the plasma et al. 2006; van Niel et al. 2006; Matsuki et al. membrane. In maturing cDCs, pMHCII that 2007). To a lesser extent, MHCII a may also be had already been sorted to ILVs before cDC ac- ubiquitinated, but this was reported only for tivation is still targeted to and degraded in ly- model cell lines that were cotransfected with sosomes, while only newly generated pMHCII is MHCII and MARCH ligases (Lapaque et al. selectively stabilized and transferred to the plas- 2009b). In immature DCs, surface expression ma membrane (ten Broeke et al. 2011). Synthe- of a K225 mutant of MHCII b was dramatically sis of MHCII is shut off in fully matured cDCs. increased in comparison to wild-type MHCII b As a consequence, pMHCII that are stably dis- (Shin et al. 2006; van Niel et al. 2006; Matsuki played on mature cDCs are predominantly gen- et al. 2007), with the major cause being that erated directly after pathogen contact. This cre- sorting at MVBs into ILVs was .20-fold less ates a “snapshot” for presentation of those efficient (van Niel et al. 2006). Ubiquiti- peptides that are present directly after pathogen nation-driven cargo sorting and ILV formation contact, therewith optimizing the presentation at endosomes are facilitated by the endo- of “foreign peptides” relative to “self peptides.” somal sorting complex required for transport Unlike activated cDCs, activated plasmacytoid
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Endosomal MHC Class II Processing
DCs (pDCs) carry on synthesizing as well as MARCH ligases can also ubiquitinate MHCII. ubiquitinating MHCII, allowing continuation In MARCH1 knockout mice, ubiquitination of the sampling and presentation of acquired of MHCII was fully suppressed in B cells but endogenous (late) viral antigens in their activat- only partially in DCs (Matsuki et al. 2007), sug- ed state (Young et al. 2008). gesting some redundant ligase activity in DCs. Ubiquitination of MHCII is largely driven MARCH8/c-MIR was able to reduce MHCII by MARCH1 (Matsuki et al. 2007; De Gassart surface expression when overexpressed (Oh- et al. 2008), a member of the family of MARCH mura-Hoshino et al. 2006), indicating overlap- E3 ligases (Nathan and Lehner 2009). Besides ping specificity with MARCH1. Although MHCII, the costimulatory molecule CD86 is MARCH1 seems to play a more prominent also targeted by MARCH1-driven ubiquitina- role in controlling pMHCII traffic in DCs (De tion to lysosomes (Baravalle et al. 2011). The Gassart et al. 2008), it cannot be excluded that molecular mechanism for attenuating MHCII the twoligases act at distinct sites, forexample, at or CD86 ubiquitination in activated cDCs is the plasma membrane and at the endosomal not entirely clear. Although MARCH1 has a membrane, leaving dissimilar sorting signa- half-life of ,30 min (Jabbour et al. 2009), its tures. In this regard, it was recently shown that transcription is turned off only .8 h after DC sorting of MHCII is highly dependent on the activation (De Gassart et al. 2008; Young et al. length of the conjugated ubiquitin chain (Ma 2008). The relatively late onset of transcription et al. 2012). Specificities of MARCH ligases regulation suggests that additional mechanisms may differ for distinct MHCII isotypes (Jahnke are responsible for the rapid interference (,1h) et al. 2012). The biological relevance of ubiqui- with MHCII ubiquitination in response to mat- tination-driven MHCII traffic has also been uration stimuli. One mechanism could involve investigated in vivo and has generated some deubiquitination, although MHCII-specific de- dispute. Knock-in mice for a ubiquitination ubiquitinating enzyme(s) have not yet been mutant of MHCII showed dysfunction of DCs identified. Another potential regulatory factor similar to that of MARCH1 knockout mice (Oh- is CD83, which is highly expressed on mature mura-Hoshino et al. 2009). Others concluded DCs and was shown to bind MARCH1, seques- that ubiquitin-dependent control of MHCII lo- tering it from MHCII (Tze et al. 2011). Yetother calization is dispensable for antigen presenta- undiscovered regulatory mechanisms may pro- tion and antibody production (McGehee et al. vide additional modes to regulate ubiquitina- 2011). In the latter study, mice in which endog- tion of MHCII. The pivotal role of MARCH1 enous MHCII was replaced by GFP-tagged wild- in regulating MHCII-mediated antigen presen- type MHCII were compared with knock-in tation is further illustrated by observations that mice for a K225 ubiquitination mutant of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 enhances GFP-tagged MHCII. These animals performed MARCH1 expression (Thibodeau et al. 2008; equally well in generating CD4+ T cells and an- Baravalle et al. 2011; Tze et al. 2011), there- tibody titers in response to model antigens at by promoting MHCII degradation at immune- DC-activating conditions. However, it should suppressive conditions. The central role of MHC be noted that at DC-activating conditions, ubiquitination in antigen presentation is also ubiquitination of wild-type MHCII is also ab- illustrated by reports on how certain pathogens sent. As explained above, it can be expected that can suppress immunity by targeting this system ubiquitination of MHCII rather serves to pre- (Ishido et al. 2009; Lapaque et al. 2009a). The vent antigen presentation by nonactivated DCs. discovery of viral E3-ubiquitin ligases that In a recent in vivo study, it was found that down-modulate surface expression of MHCI MARCH1-mediated ubiquitination of MHCII have, in fact, also helped the identification of in dendritic cells promotes selection of natural MARCH ligases that regulate MHCII surface ex- regulatory T cells (Oh et al. 2013), again consis- pression (Bartee et al. 2004; Ohmura-Hoshino tent with a role in the prevention of autoim- et al. 2006). In addition to MARCH1, other mune responses.
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MVB DYNAMICS AND MHCII PEPTIDE quent ubiquitination of MHCII (see above). LOADING Thus, Ii is already processed into CLIPand ready for peptide loading at the endosomal-delimiting As discussed above, degradation of Ii in the en- membrane. Also, DM is abundantly present at docytic system liberates MHCII ab dimers from MVB-delimiting membranes (Kleijmeer et al. the (abIi)3 nonameric complex and allows 2001); thus, all essential requirements for pep- MHCII peptide loading. It has been debated tide loading are at hand at this location. This is whether peptide loading occurs preferentially consistent with our observation that ubiquiti- at the endosomal-delimiting membrane or at nated MHCII is in a SDS-stable peptide-loaded ILVs. DM facilitates MHCII peptide loading complex (van Nielet al. 2006). After recruitment and is present at the MVB-delimiting membrane by the ESCRTmachinery, ubiquitinated cargo is and ILVs (Kleijmeer et al. 2001), and both sites deubiquitinated before incorporation into ILVs provide access to the peptide pool generated in (Henne et al 2011). Thus, MHCII peptide load- the MVB lumen. In transfected HEK293 cells ing occurs before or concomitant with ubiqui- with experimentally swollen MVBs, MHCII tination, before ILV incorporation. MHCII and DM were shown by fluorescence resonance peptide loading and ubiquitinaton are not nec- energy transfer (FRET) to interact primarily at essarily mechanistically linked, and the se- ILVs, suggesting that peptide loading onto quence of events could merely be dictated by MHCII may preferentially occur at ILVs (Zwart differences in kinetics. A second indication for et al. 2005). In this case, a pathway should exist MHCII peptide loading at the endosomal-de- for pMHCII to travel back from ILVs to the en- limiting membrane is that loading of wild-type dosomal-delimiting membrane from where it MHCII and mutant K225 MHCII were equally could then reach the plasma membrane. Such efficient (Shin et al. 2006; van Niel et al. 2006), a pathway, also referred to as “back-fusion” or and that antigen presentation was unaffected in retrofusion of ILVs,was also proposed to explain ubiquitination-deficient MHCII knock-in mice the disappearance of the MVB during DC mat- (McGehee et al. 2011). Third, interference with uration (Kleijmeer et al. 2001) and to provide a MHCII sorting at MVBs with a dominant-neg- source of membrane needed for the formation ative mutant of VPS4 also did not affect peptide of MIIC-associated tubules in maturing DCs loading (T ten Broeke, R Wubbolts, W Stoorvo- (Boes et al. 2002, 2003; Chow et al. 2002; Vyas gel, et al., unpubl.). Finally, in a recent study, we et al. 2007). More recently, however, it was showed directly that maturing DCs predomi- shown that such membrane tubules can be gen- nantly used newly synthesized MHCII for anti- erated as a consequence of homotypic endo- gen presentation rather than MHCII that was some fusion (Skjeldal et al. 2012), which is ac- synthesized before DC activation (ten Broeke celerated in maturing DCs (van Nispen tot et al. 2011). This directly excludes a ubiquitina- Pannerden et al. 2010). ILV back-fusion has, in tion-dependent cycle of MHCII through ILVs, fact, never been convincingly recorded in live because ubiquitination is absent (van Niel et al. cells nor in vitro, and therefore remains hypo- 2006) and MVB formation diminished upon thetical, despite a proposed involvement of ly- DC activation (Kleijmeer et al. 2001). These ob- sobisphosphatidic acid, Tsg101, or Alix (Fal- servations also argue against the idea that guie`res et al. 2009). Several lines of more MHCII at ILV in immature DCs may serve as a convincing evidence support the idea that “storage pool” that can be recruited in response MHCII peptide loading occurs at the endoso- to DC activation. For maturing DCs, it seems mal-delimiting membrane, in contrast to ILVs. even undesirable to recruit a preexisting pool First, MHCII failed to sort to ILVsin cathepsin- of pMHCII from ILVs, because this was gener- S-deficient intestinal epithelial or professional ated before pathogen contact, and presentation antigen-presenting cells (Beers et al. 2005; Boes of self peptides loaded into these MHCII mole- et al. 2005). Cathepsin S is required for the deg- cules at inflammatory conditions may provoke radation of Ii (p10), and hence also for subse- autoimmunity. In this line of thought, and con-
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sistent with our data (ten Broeke et al. 2011), it pathways have not been specified, but besides would rather be favorable when all pMHCII TLRs may also involve local MHCII molecules at ILVswould be irreversibly destined for degra- (Inaba et al. 1998; Blander and Medzhitov dation in the lysosome, irrespective of DC acti- 2006). Recruitment of TLR and/or MHCII to vation. phagosomes may also involve the Arf-like GTPase Arl8b and its downstream effector, the homotypic fusion- and vacuolar protein-sort- AUTONOMOUS PHAGOSOMES ing (HOPS) complex, analogous to their role After DC activation, only a minority of MHCII in functional targeting of CD1 to phagosomes molecules truly display pathogen-derived pep- (Garg et al. 2011). Clearly, pMHCII can also be tides (Trombetta and Mellman 2005). This pos- recruited to the plasma membrane from endo- es a conceptual problem that has not yet been cytic compartments other than phagosomes, fully resolved. How does the immune system but recruitment from PAMP-carrying phago- prevent the activation of self-reactive T cells by somes may prevail. Toachieve immune evasion, activated DCs that in addition to foreign pep- pathogens like Salmonella (Lapaque et al. tides also display self peptides in the context of 2009a) and Francisella tularensis (Wilson et al. MHCII? Part of the answer came with the con- 2009) stimulate the host system to ubiquitinate cept that mature DCs present a “snapshot” of MHCII, stimulating transfer to lysosomes rather their antigenic environment at the time of acti- than to the plasma membrane. Phagosomes that vation. In response to DC activation by patho- carry less sophisticated pathogens might stabi- gens, the selectivity of loading microbial-de- lize MHCII molecules through local interfer- rived antigens over self peptides is achieved ence with ubiquitination. Maintenance of through transient up-regulation followed by MHCII ubiquitination in endocytic compart- shutoff of MHCII synthesis in combination ments other than phagosomes within the same with a change in the sorting behavior of newly cell would enhance selectivity in MHCII presen- synthesized MHCII at the endocytic tract (Vil- tation of pathogen-derived peptides. Transfer of ladangos et al 2005; ten Broeke et al. 2011). pMHCII from pathogen-loaded phagosomes to Another way to increase selectivity in antigen the plasma membrane can occur unidirection- presentation is the formation of pMHCII mi- ally, for example, toward immunological syn- crodomains that are preformed within phago- apse between DC and T cells (Boes et al. 2002; somes and maintained upon arrival at the DC Keller et al. 2007), applying yet another layer of plasma membrane (Bosch et al. 2013). Further specificity. specificity may be achieved through autono- mous control by phagosomes in contributing CONCLUDING REMARKS AND pMHCII for presentation, meaning that anti- FUTURE DIRECTIONS gens are preferentially presented by MHCII when originating from antigen-carrying parti- The mechanisms that regulate MHCII antigen cles that also stimulate DC-activating receptors presentation by DCs are instrumental in direct- from within that same compartment (Blander ing specificity in adaptive immune responses. and Medzhitov 2006; Hoffmann et al. 2012). Although MHCII is constitutively synthe- This idea is supported by the observations that sized and loaded with peptide, newly formed TLR2 (Underhill et al. 1999) and TLR4 (Huse- pMHCII complexes are efficiently displayed bye et al. 2010; Mantegazza et al. 2012) can be only upon DC activation. Surface exposure recruited to and signal from phagosomes. TLR and lifetime of pMHCII are determined by sort- delivery to phagosomes requires the clathrin ing at MVBs. Ubiquitination drives MHCII into adaptor AP-3, and local signaling facilitates ILVs, resulting in transfer to and degradation in pMHCII recruitment from phagosomes for pre- lysosomes. Ubiquitination of MHCII is regulat- sentation at the plasma membrane (Mantegazza ed, possibly differentially depending on the sub- et al. 2012). Phagosome-specific TLR signaling cellular location, by largely unknown mecha-
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nisms. Clearly, further research is required to Anderson HA, Bergstralh DT, Kawamura T, Blauvelt A, understand how selectivity in peptide presenta- Roche PA. 1999. Phosphorylation of the invariant chain by protein kinase C Regulates MHC class II trafficking tion by MHCII is achieved, particularly with to antigen-processing compartments. J Immunol 163: regard to the mechanism(s) of the silencing of 5435–5443. MHCII ubiquitination in activated DCs. The Anderson HA, Hiltbold EM, Roche PA.2000. Concentration potential role of phagosome autonomy herein of MHC class II molecules in lipid rafts facilitates antigen presentation. Nat Immunol 1: 156–162. also needs to be explored. Such knowledge may Arunachalam B, Lamb CA, Cresswell P. 1994. Transport be instrumental to design more efficient vacci- properties of free and MHC class ll-associated oligomers nation strategies, for example, through physical containing different isoforms of human invariant chain. coupling of vaccine antigens to immune adju- Int Immunol 6: 439–451. vants. Disclosure of mechanisms by which some Ashman JB, Miller J. 1999. A role for the transmembrane domain in the trimerization of the MHC Class II–asso- bacteria and viruses avoid immune surveillance ciated invariant chain. J Immunol 163: 2704–2712. by enhancing MHCII traffic to lysosomes may Baravalle G, Park H, McSweeney M, Ohmura-Hoshino M, help development of novel medicines toward Matsuki Y, Ishido S, Shin JS. 2011. Ubiquitination of such pathogens. Finally, whether failure of CD86 is a key mechanism in regulating antigen presen- tation by dendritic cells. J Immunol 187: 2966–2973. proper regulation of MHCII ubiquitination Bartee E, Mansouri M, Hovey Nerenberg BT, Gouveia K, can contribute to the development of autoim- Fruh K. 2004. Downregulation of major histocompatibil- mune diseases also needs to be investigated. ity complex class I by human ubiquitin ligases related to viral immune evasion proteins. J Virol 78: 1109–1120. Beers C, Burich A, Kleijmeer MJ, Griffith JM, Wong P, Ru- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS densky AY. 2005. Cathepsin S controls MHC class II– mediated antigen presentation by epithelial cells in We thank Guillaume van Niel, Marca Wauben, vivo. J Immunol 174: 1205–1212. Lisette Nijland, and Birol Cabukusta, as well as Beisner DR, Langerak P, Parker AE, Dahlberg C, Otero FJ, Sutton SE, Poirot L, Barnes W, Young MA, Niessen S, et other laboratory members and collaborators al. 2013. The intramembrane protease Sppl2a is required for their contributions to our work and stimu- for B cell and DC development and survival via cleavage lating discussions. We apologize to all col- of the invariant chain. J Exp Med 210: 23–30. leagues whose work could not be cited because Benaroch P, Yilla M, Raposo G, Ito K, Miwa K, Geuze HJ, Ploegh HL. 1995. How MHC class II molecules reach the of space limitations. We thank Utrecht Univer- endocytic pathway. EMBO J 14: 37–49. sity for support and funding. Berditchevski F, Odintsova E. 2007. Tetraspanins as regula- tors of protein trafficking. Traffic 8: 89–96. Bergmann H, Yabas M, Short A, Miosge L, Barthel N, Teh REFERENCES CE, Roots CM, Bull KR, Jeelall Y,Horikawa K, et al. 2013.