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Review
. 2011 Jan 1;16(2):411-21.
doi: 10.2741/3695.

Receptor-mediated T cell absorption of antigen presenting cell-derived molecules

Inkyu Hwang  1 , DaLim Ki
Affiliations
Review

Receptor-mediated T cell absorption of antigen presenting cell-derived molecules

Inkyu Hwang et al. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). .

Abstract

T cells tend to acquire a variety of cell surface molecules derived from antigen presenting cells (APCs). The molecule uptake occurs mainly during direct T/APC contact and is instigated by specific receptor/ligand interactions, such as T cell receptor (TCR) with a cognate peptide/MHC complex (pMHC) or CD28 with B7. The acquired molecules are targeted for internalization and degradation in the lysosome. Nevertheless, those molecules are expressed on the surface of T cells for a period of time. The presentation of APC-derived ligands by T cells exhibited a multitude of immunological effects via antigen-specific T/T interaction upon recognition of the absorbed antigens by contact with other T cells. Ligand uptake also occurs via absorption of membrane vesicles shed from APCs prior to contact (e.g., exosomes and plasma membrane-derived vesicles). As in ligand absorption via direct T/APC interaction, the absorption of pre-formed membrane vesicles is also dependent on specific receptor/ligand interactions. In this review, biological mechanisms underlying the ligand absorption process as well as the biological significance and application of the event will be discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the process for T cell absorption of APC-derived molecules via direct T/APC contact. Encounter of a specific receptor in T cell (e.g., TCR) with its cognate ligands in APC (e.g., pMHCs) leads to recruitment of those receptors and ligands to the contact site, resulting in formation of the immunological synapse at the junction (i). The T cell then absorbs, exploiting a mechanism still to be understood, microscopic pieces of plasma membrane from the APC (ii). The absorbed vesicles express not only ligands directly engaged in the receptor/ligand interaction but also adjacent bystander molecules. The absorbed ligands are internalized by the T cell (iii) and merge with lysosomes (iv). It is also speculated that some of the internalized molecules are recycled to the cell surface (v).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of the process for T cell absorption of pre-formed membrane vesicles shed from APCs. Encounter of a specific receptor in T cell (e.g., TCR) and its cognate ligands in APC-derived vesicles triggers intracellular signaling cascades resulting in activation of LFA-1 function. Then, both affinity and avidity of LFA-1 for ICAM-1 increase via structural change and relocation of the molecules, respectively. As a result, LFA-1s can exhibit firm interaction with ICAM-1s in the vesicles, promoting stability of T/vesicle contact.
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