Dendritic cells (DCs) have several functions in innate and adaptive immunity. In addition, there is increasing evidence that DCs in situ induce antigen-specific unresponsiveness or tolerance in central lymphoid organs and in the periphery. In the thymus DCs generate tolerance by deleting self-reactive T cells. In peripheral lymphoid organs DCs also induce tolerance to antigens captured by receptors that mediate efficient uptake of proteins and dying cells. Uptake by these receptors leads to the constitutive presentation of antigens on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II products. In the steady state the targeting of DC antigen capture receptors with low doses of antigens leads to deletion of the corresponding T cells and unresponsiveness to antigenic rechallenge with strong adjuvants. In contrast, if a stimulus for DC maturation is coadministered with the antigen, the mice develop immunity, including interferon-gamma-secreting effector T cells and memory T cells. There is also new evidence that DCs can contribute to the expansion and differentiation of T cells that regulate or suppress other immune T cells. One possibility is that distinct developmental stages and subsets of DCs and T cells can account for the different pathways to peripheral tolerance, such as deletion or suppression. We suggest that several clinical situations, including autoimmunity and certain infectious diseases, can be influenced by the antigen-specific tolerogenic role of DCs.

https://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1153&context=steinman-publications

Tolerogenic dendritic cells.

We have previously demonstrated that human peripheral blood low density mononuclear cells cultured in granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-4 develop into dendritic cells (DCs) that are extremely efficient in presenting soluble antigens to T cells. To identify the mechanisms responsible for efficient antigen capture, we studied the endocytic capacity of DCs using fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran, horseradish peroxidase, and lucifer yellow. We found that DCs use two distinct mechanisms for antigen capture. The first is a high level of fluid phase uptake via macropinocytosis. In contrast to what has been found with other cell types, macropinocytosis in DCs is constitutive and allows continuous internalization of large volumes of fluid. The second mechanism of capture is mediated via the mannose receptor (MR), which is expressed at high levels on DCs. At low ligand concentrations, the MR can deliver a large number of ligands to the cell in successive rounds. Thus, while macropinocytosis endows DCs with a high capacity, nonsaturable mechanism for capture of any soluble antigen, the MR gives an extra capacity for antigen capture with some degree of selectivity for non-self molecules. In addition to their high endocytic capacity, DCs from GM-CSF + IL-4-dependent cultures are characterized by the presence of a large intracellular compartment that contains high levels of class II molecules, cathepsin D, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein-1, and is rapidly accessible to endocytic markers. We investigated whether the capacity of DCs to capture and process antigen could be modulated by exogenous stimuli. We found that DCs respond to tumor necrosis factor alpha, CD40 ligand, IL-1, and lipopolysaccharide with a coordinate series of changes that include downregulation of macropinocytosis and Fc receptors, disappearance of the class II compartment, and upregulation of adhesion and costimulatory molecules. These changes occur within 1-2 d and are irreversible, since neither pinocytosis nor the class II compartment are recovered when the maturation-inducing stimulus is removed. The specificity of the MR and the capacity to respond to inflammatory stimuli maximize the capacity of DCs to present infectious non-self antigens to T cells.

https://rupress.org/jem/article-pdf/182/2/389/1107245/389.pdf

Dendritic cells use macropinocytosis and the mannose receptor to concentrate macromolecules in the major histocompatibility complex class II compartment: downregulation by cytokines and bacterial products.

Expression of the macrophage mannose receptor is inhibited by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), a T helper type 1 (Th-1)-derived lymphokine. Interleukin 4 (IL-4), a Th-2 lymphocyte product, upregulates major histocompatibility class II antigen expression but inhibits inflammatory cytokine production by macrophages. We have studied the effect of IL-4 on expression of the macrophage mannose receptor (MMR) by elicited peritoneal macrophages. We found that recombinant murine IL-4 enhances MMR surface expression (10-fold) and activity (15-fold), as measured by the respective binding and degradation of 125I-mannose-bovine serum albumin. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of cDNAs from purified primary macrophage populations revealed that MMR, but not lysozyme or tumor necrosis factor alpha, mRNA levels were markedly increased by IL-4. The above effects were associated with morphologic changes. These data establish IL-4 as a potent and selective enhancer of murine MMR activity in vitro. IL-4 induces inflammatory macrophages to adopt an alternative activation phenotype, distinct from that induced by IFN-gamma, characterized by a high capacity for endocytic clearance of mannosylated ligands, enhanced (albeit restricted) MHC class II antigen expression, and reduced proinflammatory cytokine secretion.

/pdf/interleukin-4-potently-enhances-murine-macrophage-mannose-553818jm7j.pdf

Interleukin 4 potently enhances murine macrophage mannose receptor activity: a marker of alternative immunologic macrophage activation.

Simple and complex carbohydrates (glycans) have long been known to play major metabolic, structural and physical roles in biological systems. Targeted microbial binding to host glycans has also been studied for decades. But such biological roles can only explain some of the remarkable complexity and organismal diversity of glycans in nature. Reviewing the subject about two decades ago, one could find very few clear-cut instances of glycan-recognition-specific biological roles of glycans that were of intrinsic value to the organism expressing them. In striking contrast there is now a profusion of examples, such that this updated review cannot be comprehensive. Instead, a historical overview is presented, broad principles outlined and a few examples cited, representing diverse types of roles, mediated by various glycan classes, in different evolutionary lineages. What remains unchanged is the fact that while all theories regarding biological roles of glycans are supported by compelling evidence, exceptions to each can be found. In retrospect, this is not surprising. Complex and diverse glycans appear to be ubiquitous to all cells in nature, and essential to all life forms. Thus, >3 billion years of evolution consistently generated organisms that use these molecules for many key biological roles, even while sometimes coopting them for minor functions. In this respect, glycans are no different from other major macromolecular building blocks of life (nucleic acids, proteins and lipids), simply more rapidly evolving and complex. It is time for the diverse functional roles of glycans to be fully incorporated into the mainstream of biological sciences.

/pdf/biological-roles-of-glycans-zowb8sw07y.pdf

Biological Roles of Glycans

At 4 degrees C transferrin bound to receptors on the reticulocyte plasma membrane, and at 37 degrees C receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin occurred. Uptake at 37 degrees C exceeded binding at 4 degrees C by 2.5-fold and saturated after 20-30 min. During uptake at 37 degrees C, bound transferrin was internalized into a trypsin-resistant space. Trypsinization at 4 degrees C destroyed surface receptors, but with subsequent incubation at 37 degrees C, surface receptors rapidly appeared (albeit in reduced numbers), and uptake occurred at a decreased level. After endocytosis, transferrin was released, apparently intact, into the extracellular space. At 37 degrees C colloidal gold-transferrin (AuTf) clustered in coated pits and then appeared inside various intracellular membrane-bounded compartments. Small vesicles and tubules were labeled after short (5-10 min) incubations at 37 degrees C. Larger multivesicular endosomes became heavily labeled after longer (20-35 min) incubations. Multivesicular endosomes apparently fused with the plasma membrane and released their contents by exocytosis. None of these organelles appeared to be lysosomal in nature, and 98% of intracellular AuTf was localized in acid phosphatase-negative compartments. AuTf, like transferrin, was released with subsequent incubation at 37 degrees C. Freeze-dried and freeze-fractured reticulocytes confirmed the distribution of AuTf in reticulocytes and revealed the presence of clathrin-coated patches amidst the spectrin coating the inner surface of the plasma membrane. These data suggest that transferrin is internalized via coated pits and vesicles and demonstrate that transferrin and its receptor are recycled back to the plasma membrane after endocytosis.

/pdf/receptor-mediated-endocytosis-of-transferrin-and-recycling-4r0ww3h64h.pdf

Receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin and recycling of the transferrin receptor in rat reticulocytes

Alveolar macrophages have been shown to bind glycoproteins and synthetic glycoconjugates (neoglycorpoteins) that have mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, or glucose in the exposed, nonreducing position. Galactose-terminal glycoproteins are not bound. Binding of radiolabeled ligands to cells is nearly completely impaired by the presence of an excess of yeast mannan. Binding is temperature sensitive and proceeds optimally at pH 7.0. Prior treatment of the cells with trypsin severely decreases their capacity to bind ligands. An inhibition assay has been developed, using radioiodinated glucose-albumin conjugate, agalacto-orosomucoid, beta-glucuronidase, and RNase B as ligands. Various glycoproteins have been shown to be effective inhibitors of ligand binding including horseradish peroxidase, agalacto-orosomucoid, beta-glucuronidase, ovalbumin, agalacto-fetuin, and RNase B. RNase A and asialo-fetuin are ineffective as antagonists. The results suggest the presence of a cell surface receptor on alveolar macrophages that binds glycoproteins having terminal sugars with the mannose or glucose configuration.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/75/3/1399.full.pdf

Evidence for receptor-mediated binding of glycoproteins, glycoconjugates, and lysosomal glycosidases by alveolar macrophages.

https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/0092-8674(80)90402-X.pdf

Receptor-mediated pinocytosis of mannose glycoconjugates by macrophages: Characterization and evidence for receptor recycling

A study of the clearance of liver lysosomal enzymes was carried out in the rat. Purified rat liver lysosomal beta-D-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), alpha-L-fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.51), and alpha-D-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24), as well as rat preputial gland beta-glucuronidase, were infused intravenously into anesthetized rats. All of the enzymes were rapidly cleared from the circulation. Sodium periodate oxidation of lysosomal beta-glucuronidase resulted in a near abolition of rapid clearance, a reduction in concanavilin-A-Sepharose binding, and a reduction in neutral sugar content, accompanied by alteration in isoelectric focusing properties. Similarly, periodate oxidation of lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase resulted in a loss of the rapid clearance property. These results suggest that specific recognition sites occur on lysosomal hydrolases which mediate clearance following intravenous injection, and that these sites involve the carbohydrate portions of the enzymes.

http://www.pnas.org/content/73/11/4045.full.pdf

Evidence for specific recognition sites mediating clearance of lysosomal enzymes in vivo

PURIFIED liver lysosomal glycosidases display very short plasma survival times following intravenous injection. The mechanism by which these hydrolases are cleared from plasma involves specific recognition of the enzymes by way of sites associated with the enzyme molecules. In our study, a modified plasma glycoprotein terminating in N-acetyl-glucosamine has been shown to inhibit recognition and clearance of several purified lysosomal glycosidases.

Recognition of lysosomal glycosidases in vivo inhibited by modified glycoproteins.

Clearance of lysosomal hydrolases following intravenous infusion: The role of liver in the clearance of β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase

Jane Somsel Rodman

Papers

Evidence for receptor-mediated binding of glycoproteins, glycoconjugates, and lysosomal glycosidases by alveolar macrophages.

Receptor-mediated pinocytosis of mannose glycoconjugates by macrophages: Characterization and evidence for receptor recycling

Evidence for specific recognition sites mediating clearance of lysosomal enzymes in vivo

Recognition of lysosomal glycosidases in vivo inhibited by modified glycoproteins.

Clearance of lysosomal hydrolases following intravenous infusion: The role of liver in the clearance of β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase