Distinct proteolytic processes generate the C and N termini of MHC class I-binding peptides.

Most of the MHC class I peptides presented to the immune system are generated during the course of protein breakdown by the proteasome. However, the precise role of the proteasome, e.g., whether this particle or some other protease generates the carboxyl (C) and amino (N) termini of the presented 8- to 10-residue peptides, is not clear. Here, we show that presentation on Db of ASNENMETM, a peptide from influenza nucleoprotein, and on Kb of FAPGNYPAL, a peptide from Sendai virus nucleoprotein, was blocked by the proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin. Using plasmid minigene constructs encoding oligopeptides of various lengths, we found that presentation of ASNENMETM from C-terminally extended peptides that contain this antigenic peptide plus three or five additional amino acids and presentation of FAPGNYPAL from a peptide containing FAPGNYPAL plus one additional C-terminal residue required the proteasome. In contrast, the proteasome inhibitor did not reduce presentation of cytosolically expressed ASNENMETM or FAPGNYPAL or N-terminally extended versions of these peptides, suggesting involvement of aminopeptidase(s) in trimming these N-extended variants. Accordingly, when the N termini of these 3N-extended peptides were blocked by acetylation, they were resistant to hydrolysis by cellular aminopeptidases and pure leucine aminopeptidase. Moreover, if introduced into the cytosol, Ag presentation of these peptides occurred to a much lesser extent than from their nonacetylated counterparts. Thus, the proteasome is essential for the generation of ASNENMETM and FAPGNYPAL peptides from the full-length nucleoproteins. Although it generates the C termini of these presented peptides, distinct aminopeptidase(s) can trim the N termini of these presented peptides to their proper size.

Activation of rat macrophages by Betafectin PGG-glucan requires cross-linking of membrane receptors distinct from complement receptor three (CR3).

PGG-glucan (Betafectin) is a soluble, highly purified yeast (1,3)-beta-glucan with broad anti-infective and immunomodulatory activities. These studies evaluated the ability of PGG-glucan to directly elicit O2- and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production by rat leukocytes in vitro. Particulate beta-glucan stimulated O2- production by the rat NR8383 alveolar macrophage cell line and resident rat peritoneal macrophages, but soluble PGG-glucan did not. In contrast, presentation of PGG-glucan to cells after covalent immobilization to a plastic surface caused a direct stimulation of O2- and TNF-alpha production. The O2- response of rat leukocytes to immobilized PGG-glucan was inhibited by soluble PGG-glucan, indicating that cellular responses to both immobilized and soluble PGG-glucan occur via common cell surface receptors. Because complement receptor type three (CR3) has been proposed as a beta-glucan receptor on human leukocytes, NR8383 cells were evaluated for the presence of CR3. Indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis showed that despite being responsive to both particulate and immobilized beta-glucans, NR8383 cells expressed no detectable CR3. These results indicate that the beta-glucan receptors on NR8383 cells are not CR3 and suggest that physical presentation plays an important role in inducing pro-inflammatory leukocyte responses to PGG-glucan.