ER stress impairs MHC Class I surface expression and increases susceptibility of thyroid cells to NK-mediated cytotoxicity

We recently reported that, in thyroid cells, ER stress triggered by thapsigargin or tunicamycin, two well known ER stressing agents, induced dedifferentiation and loss of the epithelial phenotype in rat thyroid cells. In this study, we sought to evaluate if, in thyroid cells, ER stress could affect MHC class I expression and the possible implications of this effect in the alteration of function of natural killer cells, suggesting a role in thyroid pathology. In both, a human line of fetal thyroid cells (TAD-2 cells) and primary cultures of human thyroid cells, thapsigargin and tunicamicin triggered ER stress evaluated by BiP mRNA levels and XBP-1 splicing. In both cell types, TAD-2 cell line and primary cultures, major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) plasmamembrane expression was significantly reduced by ER stress. This effect was accompanied by signs of natural killer activation. Thus, natural killer cells dramatically increased IFN-γ production and markedly increased their cytotoxicity against thyroid cells. Together, these data indicate that ER stress induces a decrease of MHC class I surface expression in thyroid cells, resulting in reduced natural killer-cell self-tolerance.     

Presentation of Phagocytosed Antigens by MHC Class I and II

Phagocytosis provides innate immune cells with a mechanism to take up and destroy pathogenic bacteria, apoptotic cells and other large particles. In some cases, however, peptide antigens from these particles are preserved for presentation in association with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or class II molecules in order to stimulate antigen‐specific T cells. Processing and presentation of antigens from phagosomes presents a number of distinct challenges relative to antigens internalized by other means; while bacterial antigens were among the first discovered to be presented to T cells, analyses of the cellular mechanisms by which peptides from phagocytosed antigens assemble with MHC molecules and by which these complexes are then expressed at the plasma membrane have lagged behind those of conventional model soluble antigens. In this review, we cover recent advances in our understanding of these processes, including the unique cross‐presentation of phagocytosed antigens by MHC class I molecules, and in their control by signaling modalities in phagocytic cells.     

Cowpox virus evades CTL recognition and inhibits the intracellular transport of MHC class I molecules

Orthopoxviruses evade host immune responses by using a number of strategies, including decoy chemokine receptors, regulation of apoptosis, and evasion of complement-mediated lysis. Different from other poxviral subfamilies, however, orthopoxviruses are not known to evade recognition by CTL. In fact, vaccinia virus (VV) is used as a vaccine against smallpox and a vector for eliciting strong T cell responses to foreign Ags. and both human and mouse T cells are readily stimulated by VV-infected APC in vitro. Surprisingly, however, CD8(+) T cells of mice infected with cowpox virus (CPV) or VV recognized APC infected with VV but not APC infected with CPV. Likewise, CD8(+) T cells from vaccinated human subjects could not be activated by CPV-infected targets and CPV prevented the recognition of VV-infected APC upon coinfection. Because CD8(+) T cells recognize viral peptides presented by MHC class I (MHC I), we examined surface expression, total levels, and intracellular maturation of MHC I in CPV- and VV-infected human and mouse cells. Although total levels of MHC I were unchanged, CPV reduced surface levels and inhibited the intracellular transport of MHC I early during infection. CPV did not prevent peptide loading of MHC I but completely inhibited MHC I exit from the endoplasmic reticulum. Because this inhibition was independent of viral replication, we conclude that an early gene product of CPV abrogates MHC I trafficking, thus rendering CPV-infected cells "invisible" to T cells. The absence of this immune evasion mechanism in VV likely limits virulence without compromising immunogenicity.     

ER quality control in the biogenesis of MHC class I molecules

Class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex play a vital role in cellular immunity, reporting on the presence of viral or tumor-associated antigens by binding peptide fragments of these proteins and presenting them to cytotoxic T cells at the cell surface. The folding and assembly of class I molecules is assisted by molecular chaperones and folding catalysts that comprise the general ER quality control system which also monitors the integrity of the process, disposing of misfolded class I molecules through ER associated degradation (ERAD). Interwoven with general ER quality control are class I-specific components such as the peptide transporter TAP and the tapasin-ERp57 chaperone complex that supply peptides and monitor their loading onto class I molecules. This ensures that at the cell surface class I molecules will possess mainly optimal peptides with a long half-life. In this review we discuss these processes as well as a number of strategies that viruses have evolved to subvert normal class I assembly within the ER and thereby evade immune recognition by cytotoxic T cells.     

主要组织相容性复合体I类分子抗原肽

被主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)I类分子呈递在细胞表面的抗原肽大部分来源于细胞内新合成蛋白质的降解产物,抗原肽直接体现细胞内功能蛋白质的部分变化,蛋白酶体、氨肽酶和抗原转运体(TAP)参与调控抗原肽的生成。在MHC的组装、折叠过程中,抗原肽促进各亚基的结合和折叠进程;而在起始细胞的免疫应答过程中,抗原肽不仅诱导T细胞抗原受体的特异结合,更为重要的是延长MHC同T细胞抗原受体特异结合的作用时间。     

Class I MHC expression in the yellow baboon

MHC class I molecules play a crucial role in the immune response to pathogens and vaccines and in self/non-self recognition. Therefore, characterization of MHC class I gene expression of Papio subspecies is a prerequisite for studies of immunology and transplantation in the baboon (papio hamadryas). To elucidate MHC class I expression and variation within Papio subspecies and to further investigate the evolution of A and B loci in Old World primates, we have characterized the expressed class I repertoire of the yellow baboon (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus) by cDNA library screening. A total of nine distinct MHC class I cDNAs were isolated from a spleen cDNA library. The four A alleles and four B alleles obtained represent four distinct loci indicating that a duplication of the A and B loci has taken place in the lineage leading to these Old World primates. No HLA--C homologue/orthologue was found. In addition a single, nonclassical homologue of HLA--E was characterized. Examination of nucleotide and extrapolated protein sequences indicates that alleles at the two B loci are much more diversified than the alleles at the A loci. One of the A loci in particular appears to display very limited polymorphism in both Papio hamadryas cynocephalus and Papio hamadryas anubis subspecies. The failure to detect a homologue of HLA--C in the baboon provides additional evidence for the more recent origin of this locus in the pongidae and hominidae: Further comparative analysis with MHC sequences among the primate species reveals specific patterns of divergence and conservation within class I molecules of the yellow baboon.     

Intracellular Assembly and Trafficking of MHC Class I Molecules

The presentation of antigenic peptides by class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex begins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where the co-ordinated action of molecular chaperones, folding enzymes and class I-specific factors ensures that class I molecules are loaded with high-affinity peptide ligands that will survive prolonged display at the cell surface. Once assembled, class I molecules are released from the quality-control machinery of the ER for export to the plasma membrane where they undergo dynamic endocytic cycling and turnover. We review recent progress in our understanding of class I assembly, anterograde transport and endocytosis and highlight some of the events targeted by viruses as a means to evade detection by cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells.     

Neuronal MHC Class I Expression Is Regulated by Activity Driven Calcium Signaling

MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules are important components of the immune system. Recently MHC-I have been reported to also play important roles in brain development and synaptic plasticity. In this study, we examine the molecular mechanism(s) underlying activity-dependent MHC-I expression using hippocampal neurons. Here we report that neuronal expression level of MHC-I is dynamically regulated during hippocampal development after birth in vivo. Kainic acid (KA) treatment significantly increases the expression of MHC-I in cultured hippocampal neurons in vitro, suggesting that MHC-I expression is regulated by neuronal activity. In addition, KA stimulation decreased the expression of pre- and post-synaptic proteins. This down-regulation is prevented by addition of an MHC-I antibody to KA treated neurons. Further studies demonstrate that calcium-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) is important in relaying KA simulation activation signals to up-regulated MHC-I expression. This signaling cascade relies on activation of the MAPK pathway, which leads to increased phosphorylation of CREB and NF-κB p65 while also enhancing the expression of IRF-1. Together, these results suggest that expression of MHC-I in hippocampal neurons is driven by Ca²⁺ regulated activation of the MAPK signaling transduction cascade.     

Class I MHC is stabilized against thermal denaturation by physiological concentrations of NaCl

Class I MHC molecules are ternary complexes composed of an allotype specific heavy chain, a noncovalently associated protein beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m), and a peptide. The complexes are assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum by a complex series of chaperones and peptide-loading mechanisms. In the absence of beta(2)m or peptide, very little class I heavy chain is transported to the surface of the cell. Complexes that do not contain all three parts of the protein are not made productively in vivo and not at all in vitro. The ability of the complex to withstand thermal denaturation in vitro has been shown to be related to the binding affinity of the peptide. Paradoxically, some low-affinity peptide complexes denature at or below human basal body temperatures in vitro but are effective biological agents in vivo. Here we show that these complexes are stabilized against thermal denaturation by physiological cosolvents and maximally stabilized by 150 mM NaCl. While the degree of stabilization by 150 mM NaCl is greatest for low-affinity peptide/MHC complexes, the mechanism of stabilization is independent of peptide sequence. This effect is hypothesized to occur by multiple mechanisms including increasing the affinity of beta(2)m for the complex and charge screening.     

Properties of MHC Class I Presented Peptides That Enhance Immunogenicity

T-cells have to recognize peptides presented on MHC molecules to be activated and elicit their effector functions. Several studies demonstrate that some peptides are more immunogenic than others and therefore more likely to be T-cell epitopes. We set out to determine which properties cause such differences in immunogenicity. To this end, we collected and analyzed a large set of data describing the immunogenicity of peptides presented on various MHC-I molecules. Two main conclusions could be drawn from this analysis: First, in line with previous observations, we showed that positions P4–6 of a presented peptide are more important for immunogenicity. Second, some amino acids, especially those with large and aromatic side chains, are associated with immunogenicity. This information was combined into a simple model that was used to demonstrate that immunogenicity is, to a certain extent, predictable. This model (made available at http://tools.iedb.org/immunogenicity/) was validated with data from two independent epitope discovery studies. Interestingly, with this model we could show that T-cells are equipped to better recognize viral than human (self) peptides. After the past successful elucidation of different steps in the MHC-I presentation pathway, the identification of variables that influence immunogenicity will be an important next step in the investigation of T-cell epitopes and our understanding of cellular immune responses.     

Structural prediction of peptides bound to MHC class I

An ab initio structure prediction approach adapted to the peptide-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I system is presented. Based on structure comparisons of a large set of peptide-MHC class I complexes, a molecular dynamics protocol is proposed using simulated annealing (SA) cycles to sample the conformational space of the peptide in its fixed MHC environment. A set of 14 peptide-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A0201 and 27 peptide-non-HLA A0201 complexes for which X-ray structures are available is used to test the accuracy of the prediction method. For each complex, 1000 peptide conformers are obtained from the SA sampling. A graph theory clustering algorithm based on heavy atom root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) values is applied to the sampled conformers. The clusters are ranked using cluster size, mean effective or conformational free energies, with solvation free energies computed using Generalized Born MV 2 (GB-MV2) and Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) continuum models. The final conformation is chosen as the center of the best-ranked cluster. With conformational free energies, the overall prediction success is 83% using a 1.00 Angstroms crystal RMSD criterion for main-chain atoms, and 76% using a 1.50 Angstroms RMSD criterion for heavy atoms. The prediction success is even higher for the set of 14 peptide-HLA A0201 complexes: 100% of the peptides have main-chain RMSD values < or =1.00 Angstroms and 93% of the peptides have heavy atom RMSD values < or =1.50 Angstroms. This structure prediction method can be applied to complexes of natural or modified antigenic peptides in their MHC environment with the aim to perform rational structure-based optimizations of tumor vaccines.     

Cowpox virus exploits the endoplasmic reticulum retention pathway to inhibit MHC class I transport to the cell surface

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules assemble with peptides in the ER lumen and are transported via Golgi to the plasma membrane for recognition by T cells. Inhibiting MHC assembly, transport, and surface expression are common viral strategies of evading immune recognition. Cowpox virus, a clinically relevant orthopoxvirus, downregulates MHC class I expression on infected cells. However, the viral protein(s) and mechanisms responsible are unknown. We identify CPXV203 as a cowpox virus protein that associates with fully assembled MHC class I molecules and blocks their transport through the Golgi. A C-terminal KTEL motif in CPXV203 closely resembles the canonical ER retention motif KDEL and is required for CPXV203 function, indicating that a physiologic pathway is exploited to retain MHC class I in the ER. This viral mechanism for MHC class I downregulation may explain virulence differences between clinical isolates of orthopoxviruses.     

Characterization and Phylogenetic Relationship of Prosimian MHC Class I Genes

MHC class I cDNA sequences from the most divergent primate group of extant primates compared to human, the suborder Strepsirrhini (prosimians), are described. The sequences are derived from the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) and the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), which are members of the malagasy Lemuriformes, as well as from the pygmy slow loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus), a prosimian from East Asia. The M. murinus sequences have been analyzed in detail. Analysis of the expression level, G/C content, and synonymous vs. nonsynonymous substitution rates in the peptide-binding region codons suggests that these cDNA clones represent classical class I (class Ia) genes. According to Southern blot analysis, the genome of the gray mouse lemur might contain about 10 class I genes. In gene tree analysis, the strepsirrhine class Ia genes described here cluster significantly separately from the known class I genes of Catarrhini (humans, apes, Old World monkeys) and Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) species, suggesting that the class I loci of Simiiformes arose by gene duplications which occurred after the divergence of prosimians.     

Receptor-mediated ER export of human MHC class I molecules is regulated by the C-terminal single amino acid

Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules bind antigens in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and deliver them to the cell surface for immune surveillance of viruses and tumors. Whereas key steps of MHC-I assembly and its acquisition of peptides in the ER are relatively well defined, little is known about how MHC-I molecules leave the ER for cell surface expression. Here, we show that ER export of human classical MHC-I molecules (HLA-A/-B/-C) is regulated by their C-terminal single amino acid, valine or alanine. These amino acids, conserved in nearly all known human MHC-I alleles, serve as the ER export signal by binding to the Sec23/24 complex, a structural component of coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles that mediate ER-to-Golgi trafficking. Together, our results strongly suggest that ER export of human classical MHC-I molecules can occur via a receptor-mediated process dictated by a highly conserved ER export signal.     

Ribosomal Proteins Regulate MHC Class I Peptide Generation for Immunosurveillance

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Coevolution between MHC Class I and Antigen-Processing Genes in Salamanders

Proteins encoded by antigen-processing genes (APGs) provide major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I (MHC-I) with antigenic peptides. In mammals, polymorphic multigenic MHC-I family is served by monomorphic APGs, whereas in certain nonmammalian species both MHC-I and APGs are polymorphic and coevolve within stable haplotypes. Coevolution was suggested as an ancestral gnathostome feature, presumably enabling only a single highly expressed classical MHC-I gene. In this view coevolution, while optimizing some aspects of adaptive immunity, would also limit its flexibility by preventing the expansion of classical MHC-I into a multigene family. However, some nonmammalian taxa, such as salamanders, have multiple highly expressed MHC-I genes, suggesting either that coevolution is relaxed or that it does not prevent the establishment of multigene MHC-I. To distinguish between these two alternatives, we use salamanders (30 species from 16 genera representing six families) to test, within a comparative framework, a major prediction of the coevolution hypothesis: the positive correlation between MHC-I and APG diversity. We found that MHC-I diversity explained both within-individual and species-wide diversity of two APGs, TAP1 and TAP2, supporting their coevolution with MHC-I, whereas no consistent effect was detected for the other three APGs (PSMB8, PSMB9, and TAPBP). Our results imply that although coevolution occurs in salamanders, it does not preclude the expansion of the MHC-I gene family. Contrary to the previous suggestions, nonmammalian vertebrates thus may be able to accommodate diverse selection pressures with flexibility granted by rapid expansion or contraction of the MHC-I family, while retaining the benefits of coevolution between MHC-I and TAPs.     

Class II MHC cDNAs in 15I5 B-congenic chickens

 cDNA was obtained from the bursae of Fabricius of chickens from six B-congenic lines developed at this laboratory and studied for expression of class II B-LB genes. Following cDNA amplification, cloning and sequencing, genes were assigned to B-LB loci based on characteristic DNA sequences, amino acid relatedness to characterized genes, and level of expression. Genes from the B-LBI, B-LBII, and B-LBVI loci were differentially expressed in chickens with the B ² , B ⁵ , B ¹³ , B ¹⁵ , or B ²¹ haplotypes. Chickens of all haplotypes expressed a B-LBII gene. Additional B-LB genes expressed included: B-LBI genes in the B ⁵ and B ¹⁹ haplotypes; a B-LBI/VI recombinant gene in the B ² haplotype; and a B-LBVI gene in the B ¹³ haplotype. The B-congenic lines have demonstrable differences in resistance to Marek’s disease (MD), and in responses to MD viral vaccines. This variability in disease resistance may be correlated with polymorphisms in the expressed B-LB genes, or with differential expression of genes at different loci. Received: 18 April 1997 / Revised: 29 September 1997     

Structural prediction of peptides binding to MHC class I molecules

Peptide binding to class I major histocompatibility complex (MHCI) molecules is a key step in the immune response and the structural details of this interaction are of importance in the design of peptide vaccines. Algorithms based on primary sequence have had success in predicting potential antigenic peptides for MHCI, but such algorithms have limited accuracy and provide no structural information. Here, we present an algorithm, PePSSI (peptide-MHC prediction of structure through solvated interfaces), for the prediction of peptide structure when bound to the MHCI molecule, HLA-A2. The algorithm combines sampling of peptide backbone conformations and flexible movement of MHC side chains and is unique among other prediction algorithms in its incorporation of explicit water molecules at the peptide-MHC interface. In an initial test of the algorithm, PePSSI was used to predict the conformation of eight peptides bound to HLA-A2, for which X-ray data are available. Comparison of the predicted and X-ray conformations of these peptides gave RMSD values between 1.301 and 2.475 A. Binding conformations of 266 peptides with known binding affinities for HLA-A2 were then predicted using PePSSI. Structural analyses of these peptide-HLA-A2 conformations showed that peptide binding affinity is positively correlated with the number of peptide-MHC contacts and negatively correlated with the number of interfacial water molecules. These results are consistent with the relatively hydrophobic binding nature of the HLA-A2 peptide binding interface. In summary, PePSSI is capable of rapid and accurate prediction of peptide-MHC binding conformations, which may in turn allow estimation of MHCI-peptide binding affinity.     

Insight into the Mechanism of Human Herpesvirus 7 U21-mediated Diversion of Class I MHC Molecules to Lysosomes

The U21 open reading frame from human herpesvirus-7 encodes a membrane protein that associates with and redirects class I MHC molecules to the lysosomal compartment. The mechanism by which U21 accomplishes this trafficking excursion is unknown. Here we have examined the contribution of localization, glycosylation, domain structure, and the absence of substrate class I MHC molecules on the ability of U21 to traffic to lysosomes. Our results suggest the existence of a cellular protein necessary for U21-mediated rerouting of class I MHC molecules.