Autologous dendritic cells prolong allograft survival through Tmem176b-dependent antigen cross-presentation.

The administration of autologous (recipient-derived) tolerogenic dendritic cells (ATDCs) is under clinical evaluation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which these cells prolong graft survival in a donor-specific manner is unknown. Here, we tested mouse ATDCs for their therapeutic potential in a skin transplantation model. ATDC injection in combination with anti-CD3 treatment induced the accumulation of CD8(+) CD11c(+) T cells and significantly prolonged allograft survival. TMEM176B is an intracellular protein expressed in ATDCs and initially identified in allograft tolerance. We show that Tmem176b(-/-) ATDCs completely failed to trigger both phenomena but recovered their effect when loaded with donor peptides before injection. These results strongly suggested that ATDCs require TMEM176B to cross-present antigens in a tolerogenic fashion. In agreement with this, Tmem176b(-/-) ATDCs specifically failed to cross-present male antigens or ovalbumin to CD8(+) T cells. Finally, we observed that a Tmem176b-dependent cation current controls phagosomal pH, a critical parameter in cross-presentation. Thus, ATDCs require TMEM176B to cross-present donor antigens to induce donor-specific CD8(+) CD11c(+) T cells with regulatory properties and prolong graft survival.

Milk fat globule--epidermal growth factor--factor VIII (MFGE8)/lactadherin promotes bladder tumor development.

Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-factor VIII (MFGE8), also called lactadherin or SED1, is a secreted integrin-binding protein that promotes elimination of apoptotic cells by phagocytes leading to tolerogenic immune responses, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis: two important processes for cancer development. Here, by transcriptomic analysis of 228 biopsies of bladder carcinomas, we observed overexpression of MFGE8 during tumor development, correlated with expression of genes involved in cell adhesion or migration and in immune responses, but not in VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. To test whether MFGE8 expression was instrumental in bladder tumor development, or a simple consequence of this development, we used genetic ablation in a mouse model of carcinogen-induced bladder carcinoma. We showed that Mfge8 was also upregulated in mouse carcinoma, and that in its absence, Mfge8-deficient animals developed less advanced tumors. Angiogenesis was similar in carcinogen-treated Mfge8-expressing or -deficient bladders, thus ruling out a major role of the proangiogenic function of Mfge8 for its protumoral role. By contrast, the tumor-promoting role of Mfge8 was not observed anymore in mice devoid of adaptive immune system, and human tumors overexpressing MFGE8 where invaded with macrophages and regulatory T cells, thus suggesting that MFGE8/lactadherin favors development of bladder tumors at least partly by an immune system-dependent mechanism. Our observations suggest future use of MFGE8-inhibiting molecules as therapies of bladder carcinomas, and of a limited number of other human cancers, in which our analysis of public databases also revealed overexpression of MFGE8.

Induction of tolerance by exosomes and short-term immunosuppression in a fully MHC-mismatched rat cardiac allograft model.

Exosomes are MHC-bearing vesicles secreted by a wide array of cells. We have previously shown that donor-haplotype exosomes from bone marrow dendritic cells (DCs) injected before transplantation significantly prolong heart allograft survival in congenic and fully MHC-mismatched Lewis rats. Here we show that donor exosomes administered after transplantation are similarly able to prolong allograft survival, however, without inducing tolerance. We therefore tested the effect of exosomes combined with short-term LF 15-0195 (LF) treatment, which blocks the maturation of DCs, so that donor-MHC antigens from exosomes could be presented in a more tolerogenic environment. LF treatment does not preclude the development of a strong antidonor cellular response, and while LF, but not exosome, treatment inhibits the antidonor humoral response and decreases leukocyte graft infiltration, allografts from LF-treated recipients were either acutely or strongly chronically rejected. Interestingly, when combined with LF treatment, exosomes induced a donor-specific allograft tolerance characterized by a strong inhibition of the antidonor proliferative response. This donor-specific tolerance was transferable to naïve allograft recipients. Moreover, exosomes/LF treatment prevented or considerably delayed the appearance of chronic rejection. These results suggest that under LF treatment, presentation of donor-MHC antigens (from exosomes) can induce regulatory responses that are able to modulate allograft rejection and to induce donor-specific allograft tolerance.

Tumor-derived exosomes: a new source of tumor rejection antigens.

Exosomes are small vesicles released by a broad array of hematopoietic cells. Previous studies showed that exosomes released by antigen loaded dendritic cells induce immune-mediated anti-tumor response in mice. Here, we will describe the biochemical properties of tumor-derived exosomes and, their pre-clinical activity as cancer vaccines.

FcgammaRI (CD64) contributes substantially to severity of arthritis, hypersensitivity responses, and protection from bacterial infection.

The high-affinity receptor for IgG, FcgammaRI, shares its capacity to bind IgG2a immune complexes (IgG2a-IC) with the low-affinity receptor FcgammaRIII and complement factors, hampering the definition of its biological role. Moreover, in vivo, FcgammaRI is occupied by monomeric IgG2a, reducing its accessibility to newly formed IgG2a-IC. By using a variety of FcgammaR(-/-) mice, we demonstrate that in the absence of FcgammaRI, the IgG2a-IC-induced cellular processes of phagocytosis, cytokine release, cellular cytotoxicity, and antigen presentation are impaired. FcgammaRI(-/-) mice showed impaired hypersensitivity responses, strongly reduced cartilage destruction in an arthritis model, and impaired protection from a bacterial infection. We conclude that FcgammaRI contributes substantially to a variety of IgG2a-IC-dependent immune functions and immunopathological responses.

[Exosomes derived from dendritic cells]. / Les exosomes dérivés des cellules dendritiques.

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent antigen presenting cells and the only ones capable of inducing primary cytotoxic immune responses both in vivo and vitro. DCs secrete a 60-80 nm membrane vesicle population of endocytic origin, called exosomes. The protein composition of exosomes was analyzed using a systematic proteomic approach. Besides MHC and costimulatory molecules, exosomes bear several adhesion proteins, probably involved in their specific targeting. Exosomes also accumulate several cytosolic factors, most likely involved in exoxome's biogenesis in late endosomes. Like DCs, exosomes induce potent anti tumor immune responses in vivo. Indeed, a single injection of DC-derived exosomes sensitized with tumor peptides induced the eradication of established mouse tumors. Tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were found in the spleen of exosome treated mice, and depletion of CD8+ T cells in vivo inhibited the anti tumor effect of exosomes. These results strongly support the implementation of human DC-derived exosomes for cancer immunotherapy.

Proteomic analysis of dendritic cell-derived exosomes: a secreted subcellular compartment distinct from apoptotic vesicles.

Dendritic cells constitutively secrete a population of small (50-90 nm diameter) Ag-presenting vesicles called exosomes. When sensitized with tumor antigenic peptides, dendritic cells produce exosomes, which stimulate anti-tumor immune responses and the rejection of established tumors in mice. Using a systematic proteomic approach, we establish the first extensive protein map of a particular exosome population; 21 new exosomal proteins were thus identified. Most proteins present in exosomes are related to endocytic compartments. New exosomal residents include cytosolic proteins most likely involved in exosome biogenesis and function, mainly cytoskeleton-related (cofilin, profilin I, and elongation factor 1alpha) and intracellular membrane transport and signaling factors (such as several annexins, rab 7 and 11, rap1B, and syntenin). Importantly, we also identified a novel category of exosomal proteins related to apoptosis: thioredoxin peroxidase II, Alix, 14-3-3, and galectin-3. These findings led us to analyze possible structural relationships between exosomes and microvesicles released by apoptotic cells. We show that although they both represent secreted populations of membrane vesicles relevant to immune responses, exosomes and apoptotic vesicles are biochemically and morphologically distinct. Therefore, in addition to cytokines, dendritic cells produce a specific population of membrane vesicles, exosomes, with unique molecular composition and strong immunostimulating properties.

Tumor-derived exosomes are a source of shared tumor rejection antigens for CTL cross-priming.

The initiation of T-cell-mediated antitumor immune responses requires the uptake and processing of tumor antigens by dendritic cells and their presentation on MHC-I molecules. Here we show in a human in vitro model system that exosomes, a population of small membrane vesicles secreted by living tumor cells, contain and transfer tumor antigens to dendritic cells. After mouse tumor exosome uptake, dendritic cells induce potent CD8+ T-cell-dependent antitumor effects on syngeneic and allogeneic established mouse tumors. Therefore, exosomes represent a novel source of tumor-rejection antigens for T-cell cross priming, relevant for immunointerventions.

The cell biology of antigen presentation in dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells are the most efficient antigen-presenting cells. They take up antigens and pathogens, generate MHC-peptide complexes, migrate from the sites of antigen acquisition to secondary lymphoid organs and, finally, they physically interact with and stimulate T lymphocytes. Indeed, dendritic cells are the only antigen-presenting cells that induce the activation of resting T cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, dendritic cells initiate adaptive immune responses and determine tolerance. To do so, dendritic cells have developed unique membrane transport pathways. The molecular mechanisms responsible for the control of antigen uptake and processing, for the generation of MHC-peptide complexes and for their transport to the cell surface have been partially unraveled in the past two years.

Vimentin filaments in fibroblasts are a reservoir for SNAP23, a component of the membrane fusion machinery.

Soluble N-ethyl maleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are core machinery for membrane fusion during intracellular vesicular transport. Synaptosome-associated protein of 23 kDa (SNAP23) is a target SNARE previously identified at the plasma membrane, where it is involved in exocytotic membrane fusion. Here we show that SNAP23 associates with vimentin filaments in a Triton X-100 insoluble fraction in fibroblasts in primary culture and HeLa cells. Upon treatment of human fibroblasts with N-ethyl-maleimide, SNAP23 dissociates from vimentin filaments and forms a protein complex with syntaxin 4, a plasma membrane SNARE. The vimentin-associated pool of SNAP23 can therefore be a reservoir, which would supply the plasma membrane fusion machinery, in fibroblasts. Our observation points to a yet unexplored role of intermediate filaments.

The B subunit of Shiga toxin fused to a tumor antigen elicits CTL and targets dendritic cells to allow MHC class I-restricted presentation of peptides derived from exogenous antigens.

Immunization with peptide or recombinant proteins generally fails to elicit CTL, which are thought to play a key role in the control of virus-infected cells and tumor growth. In this study we show that the nontoxic B subunit of Shiga toxin fused to a tumor peptide derived from the mouse mastocytoma P815 can induce specific CTL in mice without the use of adjuvant. The Shiga B subunit acts as a vector rather than as an adjuvant, because coinjection of the tumor peptide and the B subunit as separate entities does not lead to CTL induction. We also demonstrated that in vitro the B subunit mediates the delivery of various exogenous CD8 T cell epitopes into the conventional MHC class I-restricted pathway, as this process is inhibited by brefeldin A and lactacystin and requires a functional TAP system. In contrast to other nonviral methods for transport of exogenous Ags into the endogenous MHC class I pathway that involve macropinocytosis or phagocytosis, the Shiga B subunit targets this pathway in a receptor-dependent manner, namely via binding to the glycolipid Gb3. Because this receptor is highly expressed on various dendritic cells, it should allow preferential targeting of the Shiga B subunit to these professional APCs. Therefore, the Shiga B subunit appears to represent an attractive vector for vaccine development due to its ability to target dendritic cells and to induce specific CTL without the need for adjuvant.

Cancer immunotherapy using dendritic cell-derived exosomes.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen presenting cells and the only ones capable of inducing primary cytotoxic immune responses. We found that DCs secrete a population of membrane vesicles, called exosomes. Exosomes are 60-80 nm vesicles of endocytic origin. The protein composition of exosomes was subjected to a systematic proteomic analysis. Besides MHC and co-stimulatory molecules, exosomes bear several adhesion proteins, most likely involved in their specific subjected to targeting. We also found that exosomes accumulate several cytosolic factors, probably involved in their endosomal biogenesis. Like DCs, exosomes induced immune responses in vivo. Indeed, a single injection of DC-derived exosomes sensitized with tumor peptides induced potent anti tumor immune responses in mice and the eradication of established tumors. Tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were found in the spleen of exosome-treated mice, and the anti tumor effect of exosomes was sensitive to in vivo depletion of CD8+ T cells. These results show that exosomes induce potent anti tumor effects in vivo, and strongly support the implementation of human DC-derived exosomes for cancer immunotherapy.

Antigen traffic pathways in dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) are now believed to be the principal initiators of T cell-mediated immune responses. Their location in body tissues, migratory behaviour in response to inflammatory stimuli, endocytic properties, expression of MHC molecules and key T cell stimulatory molecules and many other attributes place these remarkable cells in a unique and influential position in the immune system. Progress in DC culture methods has recently allowed in-depth studies on the cell biological features that enable them to fulfill their crucial role in the immune response.

Paucity of functional T-cell memory to melanoma antigens in healthy donors and melanoma patients.

The functional characteristics of CD8+ T cells specific for melanoma antigens (MAs) have often been defined after in vitro culture using nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells. We have examined CD8+ T-cell immunity to MAs and a viral antigen (influenza) in uncultured T cells of healthy donors and melanoma patients using autologous, mature, monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with peptide antigens and viral vectors. Antigen-specific IFN-gamma-producing T cells reactive with HLA-A*0201-restricted peptides from four melanoma antigens (MelanA/MART-1, MAGE-3, tyrosinase, and gp100) were detected only at low frequencies (<30 per 2 x 10(5) peripheral blood mononuclear cells for each of the MAs) from HLA-A2.1-positive healthy donors (n = 12) and patients with stages III/IV melanoma (n = 8). Detection of MA-specific, but not influenza matrix peptide (Flu-MP)-specific, T cells required a high concentration (10 microg/ml) of the peptide in this assay. Furthermore, these T cells did not recognize endogenously processed antigen on tumor cell lines or cells infected with viral vectors capable of expressing MAs. The use of autologous, mature DCs led to a significant increase in the number of Flu-MP, but not MA-specific, T cells in 16-h ELISPOT assays for both melanoma patients and healthy donors. In 1-week cocultures with DCs pulsed with 10 microg/ml peptide, MelanA/MART-1-specific T cells did not readily proliferate or differentiate into lytic effectors, in contrast to strong influenza-specific lytic responses. Therefore, despite distinct memory responses to influenza antigens, melanoma patients and healthy controls have a paucity of MA-reactive memory T cells, failing to rapidly generate IFN-gamma-secreting lytic effectors in short-term assays, even when stimulated by DCs.

Cancer immunotherapy using dendritic cell-derived exosomes

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen presenting cells and the only ones capable of inducing primary cytotoxic immune responses. We found that DCs secrete a population of membrane vesicles, called exosomes. Exosomes are 60-80 nm vesicles of endocytic origin. The protein composition of exosomes was subjected to a systematic proteomic analysis. Besides MHC and co-stimulatory molecules, exosomes bear several adhesion proteins, most likely involved in their specific subjected to targeting. We also found that exosomes accumulate several cytosolic factors, probably involved in their endosomal biogenesis. Like DCs, exosomes induced immune responses in vivo. Indeed, a single injection of DC-derived exosomes sensitized with tumor peptides induced potent anti tumor immune responses in mice and the eradication of established tumors. Tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were found in the spleen of exosome-treated mice, and the anti tumor effect of exosomes was sensitive to in vivo depletion of CD8+ T cells. These results show that exosomes induce potent anti tumor effects in vivo, and strongly support the implementation of human DC-derived exosomes for cancer immunotherapy.

Selective transport of internalized antigens to the cytosol for MHC class I presentation in dendritic cells.

In order for cytotoxic T cells to initiate immune responses, peptides derived from internalized antigens must be presented to the cytotoxic T cells on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Here we show that dendritic cells, the only antigen-presenting cells that initiate immune responses efficiently, have developed a unique membrane transport pathway linking the lumen of endocytic compartments and the cytosol. Endosome-to-cytosol transport is restricted to dendritic cells, specific to internalized antigens and selective for the size of the transported molecules. Thus, in dendritic cells, internalized antigens gain access to the cytosolic antigen-processing machinery and to the conventional MHC class I antigen-presentation pathway.

Molecular characterization of dendritic cell-derived exosomes. Selective accumulation of the heat shock protein hsc73.

Exosomes are membrane vesicles secreted by hematopoietic cells upon fusion of late multivesicular endosomes with the plasma membrane. Dendritic cell (DC)-derived exosomes induce potent antitumor immune responses in mice, resulting in the regression of established tumors (Zitvogel, L., A. Regnault, A. Lozier, J. Wolfers, C. Flament, D. Tenza, P. Ricciardi-Castagnoli, G. Raposo, and S. Amigorena. 1998. Nat. Med. 4:594-600). To unravel the molecular basis of exosome-induced immune stimulation, we now analyze the regulation of their production during DC maturation and characterize extensively their protein composition by peptide mass mapping. Exosomes contain several cytosolic proteins (including annexin II, heat shock cognate protein hsc73, and heteromeric G protein Gi2alpha), as well as different integral or peripherally associated membrane proteins (major histocompatibility complex class II, Mac-1 integrin, CD9, milk fat globule-EGF-factor VIII [MFG-E8]). MFG-E8, the major exosomal component, binds integrins expressed by DCs and macrophages, suggesting that it may be involved in exosome targeting to these professional antigen-presenting cells. Another exosome component is hsc73, a cytosolic heat shock protein (hsp) also present in DC endocytic compartments. hsc73 was shown to induce antitumor immune responses in vivo, and therefore could be involved in the exosome's potent antitumor effects. Finally, exosome production is downregulated upon DC maturation, indicating that in vivo, exosomes are produced by immature DCs in peripheral tissues. Thus, DC-derived exosomes accumulate a defined subset of cellular proteins reflecting their endosomal biogenesis and accounting for their biological function.

Early endosomes are required for major histocompatiblity complex class II transport to peptide-loading compartments.

Antigen presentation to CD4(+) T lymphocytes requires transport of newly synthesized major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules to the endocytic pathway, where peptide loading occurs. This step is mediated by a signal located in the cytoplasmic tail of the MHC class II-associated Ii chain, which directs the MHC class II-Ii complexes from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to endosomes. The subcellular machinery responsible for the specific targeting of MHC class II molecules to the endocytic pathway, as well as the first compartments these molecules enter after exit from the TGN, remain unclear. We have designed an original experimental approach to selectively analyze this step of MHC class II transport. Newly synthesized MHC class II molecules were caused to accumulate in the Golgi apparatus and TGN by incubating the cells at 19 degrees C, and early endosomes were functionally inactivated by in vivo cross-linking of transferrin (Tf) receptor-containing endosomes using Tf-HRP complexes and the HRP-insoluble substrate diaminobenzidine. Inactivation of Tf-containing endosomes caused a marked delay in Ii chain degradation, peptide loading, and MHC class II transport to the cell surface. Thus, early endosomes appear to be required for delivery of MHC class II molecules to the endocytic pathway. Under cross-linking conditions, most alphabetaIi complexes accumulated in tubules and vesicles devoid of gamma-adaptin and/or mannose-6-phosphate receptor, suggesting an AP1-independent pathway for the delivery of newly synthesized MHC class II molecules from the TGN to endosomes.