Antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as B cells, dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes/macrophages express major histocompatibility complex class II molecules (MHC II) at their surface and present exogenous antigenic peptides to CD4+ T helper cells. CD4+ T cells play a central role in immune protection. On their activation they stimulate differentiation of B cells into antibody-producing B-cell blasts and initiate adaptive immune responses. MHC class II molecules are transmembrane glycoprotein heterodimers of alpha and beta subunits. Newly synthesized MHC II molecules present in the endoplasmic reticulum bind to a chaperone protein called invariant (Ii) chain. The binding of Ii prevents the premature binding of self antigens to the nascent MHC molecules in the ER and also guides MHC molecules to endocytic compartments. In the acidic endosomal environment, Ii is degraded in a stepwise manner, ultimately to free the class II peptide-binding groove for loading of antigenic peptides. Exogenous antigens are internalized by the APC by receptor mediated endocytosis, phagocytosis or pinocytosis into endocytic compartments of MHC class II positive cells, where engulfed antigens are degraded in a low pH environment by multiple acidic proteases, generating MHC class II epitopes. Antigenic peptides are then loaded into the class II ligand-binding groove. The resulting class II peptide complexes then move to the cell surface, where they are scanned by CD4+ T cells for specific recognition (Berger & Roche 2009, Zhou & Blum 2004, Watts 2004, Landsverk et al. 2009).
Rocha N, Kuijl C, van der Kant R, Janssen L, Houben D, Janssen H, Zwart W, Neefjes J.; ''Cholesterol sensor ORP1L contacts the ER protein VAP to control Rab7-RILP-p150 Glued and late endosome positioning.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Landsverk OJ, Barois N, Gregers TF, Bakke O.; ''Invariant chain increases the half-life of MHC II by delaying endosomal maturation.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Hemon P, Jean-Louis F, Ramgolam K, Brignone C, Viguier M, Bachelez H, Triebel F, Charron D, Aoudjit F, Al-Daccak R, Michel L.; ''MHC class II engagement by its ligand LAG-3 (CD223) contributes to melanoma resistance to apoptosis.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Sandoval IV, Bakke O.; ''Targeting of membrane proteins to endosomes and lysosomes.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Villadangos JA, Bryant RA, Deussing J, Driessen C, Lennon-Duménil AM, Riese RJ, Roth W, Saftig P, Shi GP, Chapman HA, Peters C, Ploegh HL.; ''Proteases involved in MHC class II antigen presentation.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Urban RG, Chicz RM, Strominger JL.; ''Selective release of some invariant chain-derived peptides from HLA-DR1 molecules at endosomal pH.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Raddrizzani L, Bono E, Vogt AB, Kropshofer H, Gallazzi F, Sturniolo T, Hämmerling GJ, Sinigaglia F, Hammer J.; ''Identification of destabilizing residues in HLA class II-selected bacteriophage display libraries edited by HLA-DM.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Bania J, Gatti E, Lelouard H, David A, Cappello F, Weber E, Camosseto V, Pierre P.; ''Human cathepsin S, but not cathepsin L, degrades efficiently MHC class II-associated invariant chain in nonprofessional APCs.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Villadangos JA.; ''Presentation of antigens by MHC class II molecules: getting the most out of them.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Dixon AM, Stanley BJ, Matthews EE, Dawson JP, Engelman DM.; ''Invariant chain transmembrane domain trimerization: a step in MHC class II assembly.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Hastings KT, Lackman RL, Cresswell P.; ''Functional requirements for the lysosomal thiol reductase GILT in MHC class II-restricted antigen processing.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Kageyama T, Yonezawa S, Ichinose M, Miki K, Moriyama A.; ''Potential sites for processing of the human invariant chain by cathepsins D and E.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Anderson KS, Cresswell P.; ''A role for calnexin (IP90) in the assembly of class II MHC molecules.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Salamero J, Le Borgne R, Saudrais C, Goud B, Hoflack B.; ''Expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules in HeLa cells promotes the recruitment of AP-1 Golgi-specific assembly proteins on Golgi membranes.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Hofmann MW, Höning S, Rodionov D, Dobberstein B, von Figura K, Bakke O.; ''The leucine-based sorting motifs in the cytoplasmic domain of the invariant chain are recognized by the clathrin adaptors AP1 and AP2 and their medium chains.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Kropshofer H, Vogt AB, Moldenhauer G, Hammer J, Blum JS, Hämmerling GJ.; ''Editing of the HLA-DR-peptide repertoire by HLA-DM.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Deussing J, Roth W, Saftig P, Peters C, Ploegh HL, Villadangos JA.; ''Cathepsins B and D are dispensable for major histocompatibility complex class II-mediated antigen presentation.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Bard F, Malhotra V.; ''The formation of TGN-to-plasma-membrane transport carriers.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Marić MA, Taylor MD, Blum JS.; ''Endosomal aspartic proteinases are required for invariant-chain processing.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Nakagawa T, Roth W, Wong P, Nelson A, Farr A, Deussing J, Villadangos JA, Ploegh H, Peters C, Rudensky AY.; ''Cathepsin L: critical role in Ii degradation and CD4 T cell selection in the thymus.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Watts C, Matthews SP, Mazzeo D, Manoury B, Moss CX.; ''Asparaginyl endopeptidase: case history of a class II MHC compartment protease.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Wolf PR, Ploegh HL.; ''How MHC class II molecules acquire peptide cargo: biosynthesis and trafficking through the endocytic pathway.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Zhang T, Maekawa Y, Hanba J, Dainichi T, Nashed BF, Hisaeda H, Sakai T, Asao T, Himeno K, Good RA, Katunuma N.; ''Lysosomal cathepsin B plays an important role in antigen processing, while cathepsin D is involved in degradation of the invariant chain inovalbumin-immunized mice.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Dugast M, Toussaint H, Dousset C, Benaroch P.; ''AP2 clathrin adaptor complex, but not AP1, controls the access of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II to endosomes.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Bakke O, Dobberstein B.; ''MHC class II-associated invariant chain contains a sorting signal for endosomal compartments.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Kropshofer H, Vogt AB, Stern LJ, Hämmerling GJ.; ''Self-release of CLIP in peptide loading of HLA-DR molecules.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Plüger EB, Boes M, Alfonso C, Schröter CJ, Kalbacher H, Ploegh HL, Driessen C.; ''Specific role for cathepsin S in the generation of antigenic peptides in vivo.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Kropshofer H, Vogt AB, Thery C, Armandola EA, Li BC, Moldenhauer G, Amigorena S, Hämmerling GJ.; ''A role for HLA-DO as a co-chaperone of HLA-DM in peptide loading of MHC class II molecules.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Davidson HW.; ''Direct transport of newly synthesized HLA-DR from the trans-Golgi network to major histocompatibility complex class II containing compartments (MIICS) demonstrated using a novel tyrosine-sulfated chimera.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Shi GP, Bryant RA, Riese R, Verhelst S, Driessen C, Li Z, Bromme D, Ploegh HL, Chapman HA.; ''Role for cathepsin F in invariant chain processing and major histocompatibility complex class II peptide loading by macrophages.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Motta A, Bremnes B, Morelli MA, Frank RW, Saviano G, Bakke O.; ''Structure-activity relationship of the leucine-based sorting motifs in the cytosolic tail of the major histocompatibility complex-associated invariant chain.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Shi GP, Villadangos JA, Dranoff G, Small C, Gu L, Haley KJ, Riese R, Ploegh HL, Chapman HA.; ''Cathepsin S required for normal MHC class II peptide loading and germinal center development.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Roche PA, Marks MS, Cresswell P.; ''Formation of a nine-subunit complex by HLA class II glycoproteins and the invariant chain.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Freisewinkel IM, Schenck K, Koch N.; ''The segment of invariant chain that is critical for association with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules contains the sequence of a peptide eluted from class II polypeptides.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
McCormick PJ, Martina JA, Bonifacino JS.; ''Involvement of clathrin and AP-2 in the trafficking of MHC class II molecules to antigen-processing compartments.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Landsverk OJ, Bakke O, Gregers TF.; ''MHC II and the endocytic pathway: regulation by invariant chain.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Stumptner-Cuvelette P, Benaroch P.; ''Multiple roles of the invariant chain in MHC class II function.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Wubbolts R, Fernandez-Borja M, Jordens I, Reits E, Dusseljee S, Echeverri C, Vallee RB, Neefjes J.; ''Opposing motor activities of dynein and kinesin determine retention and transport of MHC class II-containing compartments.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Arunachalam B, Phan UT, Geuze HJ, Cresswell P.; ''Enzymatic reduction of disulfide bonds in lysosomes: characterization of a gamma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT).''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Ramachandra L, Simmons D, Harding CV.; ''MHC molecules and microbial antigen processing in phagosomes.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Roche PA, Teletski CL, Stang E, Bakke O, Long EO.; ''Cell surface HLA-DR-invariant chain complexes are targeted to endosomes by rapid internalization.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Ramachandra L, Noss E, Boom WH, Harding CV.; ''Processing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 85B involves intraphagosomal formation of peptide-major histocompatibility complex II complexes and is inhibited by live bacilli that decrease phagosome maturation.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Costantino CM, Hang HC, Kent SC, Hafler DA, Ploegh HL.; ''Lysosomal cysteine and aspartic proteases are heterogeneously expressed and act redundantly to initiate human invariant chain degradation.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Stumptner P, Benaroch P.; ''Interaction of MHC class II molecules with the invariant chain: role of the invariant chain (81-90) region.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Kropshofer H, Hämmerling GJ, Vogt AB.; ''The impact of the non-classical MHC proteins HLA-DM and HLA-DO on loading of MHC class II molecules.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Wiendl H, Lautwein A, Mitsdörffer M, Krause S, Erfurth S, Wienhold W, Morgalla M, Weber E, Overkleeft HS, Lochmüller H, Melms A, Tolosa E, Driessen C.; ''Antigen processing and presentation in human muscle: cathepsin S is critical for MHC class II expression and upregulated in inflammatory myopathies.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Pond L, Kuhn LA, Teyton L, Schutze MP, Tainer JA, Jackson MR, Peterson PA.; ''A role for acidic residues in di-leucine motif-based targeting to the endocytic pathway.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Roche PA, Cresswell P.; ''Invariant chain association with HLA-DR molecules inhibits immunogenic peptide binding.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Ramachandra L, Song R, Harding CV.; ''Phagosomes are fully competent antigen-processing organelles that mediate the formation of peptide:class II MHC complexes.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Neumann J, Koch N.; ''Assembly of major histocompatibility complex class II subunits with invariant chain.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Johansson M, Rocha N, Zwart W, Jordens I, Janssen L, Kuijl C, Olkkonen VM, Neefjes J.; ''Activation of endosomal dynein motors by stepwise assembly of Rab7-RILP-p150Glued, ORP1L, and the receptor betalll spectrin.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Wang K, Peterson PA, Karlsson L.; ''Decreased endosomal delivery of major histocompatibility complex class II-invariant chain complexes in dynamin-deficient cells.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Ong GL, Goldenberg DM, Hansen HJ, Mattes MJ.; ''Cell surface expression and metabolism of major histocompatibility complex class II invariant chain (CD74) by diverse cell lines.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Wubbolts R, Fernandez-Borja M, Oomen L, Verwoerd D, Janssen H, Calafat J, Tulp A, Dusseljee S, Neefjes J.; ''Direct vesicular transport of MHC class II molecules from lysosomal structures to the cell surface.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Bryant PW, Lennon-Duménil AM, Fiebiger E, Lagaudrière-Gesbert C, Ploegh HL.; ''Proteolysis and antigen presentation by MHC class II molecules.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Kropshofer H, Vogt AB, Hämmerling GJ.; ''Structural features of the invariant chain fragment CLIP controlling rapid release from HLA-DR molecules and inhibition of peptide binding.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Denzin LK, Sant'Angelo DB, Hammond C, Surman MJ, Cresswell P.; ''Negative regulation by HLA-DO of MHC class II-restricted antigen processing.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Chow A, Toomre D, Garrett W, Mellman I.; ''Dendritic cell maturation triggers retrograde MHC class II transport from lysosomes to the plasma membrane.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Weber DA, Evavold BD, Jensen PE.; ''Enhanced dissociation of HLA-DR-bound peptides in the presence of HLA-DM.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Stern LJ, Brown JH, Jardetzky TS, Gorga JC, Urban RG, Strominger JL, Wiley DC.; ''Crystal structure of the human class II MHC protein HLA-DR1 complexed with an influenza virus peptide.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Rocha N, Neefjes J.; ''MHC class II molecules on the move for successful antigen presentation.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Kropshofer H, Arndt SO, Moldenhauer G, Hämmerling GJ, Vogt AB.; ''HLA-DM acts as a molecular chaperone and rescues empty HLA-DR molecules at lysosomal pH.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Marks MS, Blum JS, Cresswell P.; ''Invariant chain trimers are sequestered in the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the absence of association with HLA class II antigens.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Rodionov DG, Bakke O.; ''Medium chains of adaptor complexes AP-1 and AP-2 recognize leucine-based sorting signals from the invariant chain.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Schreiber KL, Bell MP, Huntoon CJ, Rajagopalan S, Brenner MB, McKean DJ.; ''Class II histocompatibility molecules associate with calnexin during assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Jensen PE.; ''Peptide binding and antigen presentation by class II histocompatibility glycoproteins.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Hiltbold EM, Roche PA.; ''Trafficking of MHC class II molecules in the late secretory pathway.''; PubMedEurope PMCScholia
Antigen processing and loading on to MHC class II molecules occurs in late endocytic/lysosomal vesicles, where epitopes which require extensive proteolytic processing are generated (Bryant & Ploegh 2003). These late endosome/lysosomal-like compartments are enriched in MHC II and are referred to as MIICs (MHC class II compartments) (Peters et al. 1991). A variety of lysosomal proteases like cathepsins S, D, B etc. and Asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) are suggested to be involved in the processing of antigens to generate CD4+ T cell epitopes (Deusing et al. 1998, Shi et al. 1999, Pluger et al. 2002, Watts et al. 2005). An initial cleavage by endopeptidases (AEP) would be necessary to unlock the antigen and allow further trimming of the ends by exopeptidases (Cathepsins). In the acidic environment of the lysosome, cathepsins are generally activated by autocatalytic cleavage of a propeptide which otherwise blocks the active site.
The internalized nonameric complex passes through the endocytic pathway and finally reach the acidic late endosomal/lysosomal compartments, where the Ii component is progressively degraded by proteases. Proteolysis of Ii occurs through sequential cleavages from the lumenal (C-terminal) side, generating cleavage products of approximately 22 kDa (lip22) and 10 kDa (lip10), finally leaving only CLIP bound within the peptide binding groove of MHC II (Landsverk et al. 2009).
Plasma membrane-associated nonameric complexes (MHC II alpha/beta/Ii complex) are rapidly internalized and delivered to late endosomes (LEs) and lysosomes. The dileucine-based signal present in the cytoplasmic tail of Ii is required for sorting of the nonameric MHC II-Ii complex from the plasma membrane to peptide loading compartments. These signals promote rapid internalization by recognising and binding to clathrin adaptor AP-2, a scaffolding-protein complex that brings together components of the vesicle-formation machinery. AP-2 is an essential component of an endocytic clathrin coat and participates in initiation of coat assembly. The critical role of AP2 in delivering MHC II:Ii complex to antigen processing compartments came from RNA interference studies targeting clathrin and AP2. The knockout of AP2 profoundly inhibited MHC II:Ii complex internalization and resulted in the accumulation of Ii at the surface (Dugast et al. 2005, McCormick et al. 2005).
Immediately after assembly in the ER nonameric (alpha beta:Ii)3 complexes egress from ER, facilitated by the presence of Ii, and enter the Golgi complex (Wolf & Ploegh 1995, Geuze 1998). Incorrectly folded or oligomerized alpha, beta and Ii chains are retained in the ER and degraded. The Sec23/24-Sar1 pre-budding complex binds to the nonameric complex and then recruits Sec13/31 outer shell, which buds off from the membrane as a coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicle to be transported to the Golgi complex (Bickford et al. 2004).
In the acidic compartments of MIICs the empty MHC II molecules are protected from unfolding and degradation by HLA-DM (DM). DM acts as a peptide editor, favouring the formation and presentation of long-lived MHC II peptide complexes on the surface of APCs. The intrinsic stability of a ligand determines whether a peptide is resistant or sensitive to DM-mediated release (Kropshofer et al. 1996, Weber et al. 1996). From X-ray structure analysis it is known that two types of forces contribute to the intrinsic stability of class II-peptide complexes: i) interactions of the anchor side chains of the peptides with specificity pockets of polymorphic residues of the peptide binding groove of MHC II and ii) hydrogen bonds between the peptide backbone and conserved residues of the peptide binding grooves (Stern et al. 1994, Kropshofer et al. 1999). Naturally-processed antigenic peptides 14-16 residues in length with many anchor residues and few destabilizing residues (glycine and proline) at non-anchor positions are the most resistant to DM-mediated release (Radrizzani et al. 1999, Kropshofer et al. 1999).
MHC II:Ii complexes are internalized in to the endocytic clathrin coated-pit. Dynamin, the GTPase involved in the scission of clathrin-coated vesicles from plasma membrane is observed to be involved in the effective endocytosis of MHC II:Ii complexes. Wang et al, demonstrated that overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of the GTPase dynamin resulted in the cell surface accumulation of MHC II:Ii complex, supporting that endocytosis is required for delivery to antigen processing compartments (Wang et al, 1997). However, another study using the same dynamin mutant generated opposite conclusions (Davidson, 1999). This discrepancy may be caused by differences in experimental set-up and in the levels of expression of the dynamin mutant and MHC II chains (Dugast et al, 2005).
Progressive addition of two more preformed alpha beta dimers to the invariant chain trimer and alpha beta complex ((alpha beta)1:(Ii)3) forms the complete nonameric structure ((alpha beta:Ii)3). Calnexin then disassociates on egress of the nonameric complex from the ER.
Once MHC class II-peptide complexes are formed, they must be transported back to the cell surface. It is unclear how this occurs. LEs/lysosomes with peptide loaded MHC II molecules may move in a bidirectional manner in a stop-and-go fashion along microtubules to the plasma membrane, driven by the activities of the oppositely-directed motor proteins dynein and kinesin (Wubbolts et al. 1996, 1999, Chow et al. 2002, Rocha & Neefjes 2007). Ultimately, LEs/lysosomes fuse to the plasma membrane delivering the MHC II-peptide complexes to the surface (Raposo et al. 1996, Rocha & Neefjes 2007). RAB7-GTP present on LEs/lysosome membrane interacts with Rab7-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP) and oxysterol-binding protein-related protein 1L (ORP1L) to form a tripartite RILP-Rab7-ORP1L complex. RILP binds to the p150 dynactin subunit to recruit the dynein or kinesin motor proteins. ORP1L recruits this complex to betaIII spectrin domains, which appears to be critical for dynein motor activation and transport of LEs/lysosome vesicles to the cell periphery (Johansson et al. 2007, Rocha & Neefjes 2008).
The trans-Golgi network (TGN) is the sorting and package centre for trafficking cargo to the endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane and endosomes. Signal peptides determine the sorting and trafficking of proteins to the endosomal-lysosomal pathway or to the cell surface. The main signals that mediate targeting of MHC-II molecules to the endocytic pathway are two dileucine-based motifs, Leu23-Ile24 and Pro31-Leu33 present in the short cytoplasmic tail of Ii (Odorizzi et al. 1994). These motifs bind both the adaptor proteins AP-1 and AP-2, which are components of clathrin coats associated with the TGN/endosomes and the plasma membrane, respectively (McCormick et al. 2005). The precise pathway of class II:Ii complex trafficking from TGN to endocytic pathway is not well understood. In one view MHC II:Ii complexes directly traffic from the TGN to lysosomes, possibly using AP-1 dependent endocytic vesicles (Peters et al. 1991, Amigorena et al. 1994). Alternatively trafficking occurs via transient expression on the cell surface followed by rapid internalization and delivery to endocytic compartments. Early immunoelectron microscopy data has shown the presence of MHC class II:Ii complex molecules primarily in TGN and lysosomes (Peters et al. 1991, Hiltbold & Roche 2002). This theory was further supported by a study examining the trafficking of sulphate-tagged class II molecules, which concluded that the rapid appearance of these molecules in lysosomes was consistent with their direct transport from the TGN to lysosomes (Hiltbold & Roche 2002, Davidson 1999). The transport of cargo MHC II:Ii complexes from the TGN to lysosomes may be mediated by small TGN vesicles coated with AP-1 and clathrin. The di-leucine-based sorting signal in the Ii cytoplasmic chain recruits AP-1 and clathrin from cytosol to TGN to form AP-1 clathrin-coated TGN-derived vesicles. This process is regulated by the small GTPase ARF-1 (Salamero et al. 1996).
The newly formed MHC II-Ii complex exits the TGN and ultimately is delivered to late-endosome/lysosome compartments. A proportion of the nonameric complex traffics directly from the TGN to these compartments, while a substantial population follow the indirect pathway involving transport from the TGN to the plasma membrane, followed by endocytic delivery to early endosomes, late endosomes, and finally lysosomes (McCormick et al. 2005). Transport carrier vesicles may traffic the cargo MHC II-Ii complex from the TGN to the plasma membrane.
The lip10 fragments bound in the nonameric complex are processed leaving only the CLIP fragment (81-105) bound to the MHC II peptide binding groove. Three cysteine proteases have been shown to be capable of digesting lip10, each with a different expression pattern among different APC. Cathepsin (Cat) S digests Ii in B cells and dendritic cells, thymic epithelial cells use Cat L and Cat L, while Cat S and F are active in macrophages (Villadangos, 2001; Bryant et al, 2002). Cat S appears to be the major enzyme involved as demonstrated by the use of specific inhibitors and of knockout experiments (Stumptner-Cuvelette et al. 2002). Following lip10 digestion, the MHC-like molecule HLA-DM induces the exchange of CLIP fragment for a highly diverse array of antigens (Denzin & Cresswell. 1995).
MHC II alpha and beta chains translocate to the ER and associate noncovalently to form an alpha beta heterodimer (Roche et al. 1991). This heterodimer then associates with a preformed invariant (Ii) chain trimer.
MHC II typically presents antigens derived from exogenous proteins internalized by APCs such as macrophages, B cells or dendritic cells. Different types of antigen use different routes of internalization. Endocytosis may be specific, mediated by a range of receptors expressed on APC, or may occur by nonspecific mechanisms such as phagocytosis, macropinocytosis or autophagy. Antigens are first loaded into endocytic vesicles and progress along the early endosomes (EE)-late endosomes (LE) lysosomal axis. Antigens are exposed to increasingly acidic, more denaturing and proteolytic conditions (Doherty & McMahon 2009, Underhill & Ozinsky 2002).
To gain the capacity to activate antigen-specific T cells, MHC class II-associated CLIP must be exchanged for an antigenic peptide (Kropshofer et al. 1999). There are two CLIP variants in humans: CLIP(long) with 21-26 residues, and CLIP(short) with 14-19 residues. CLIP(long) disassociates rapidly from HLA-DR molecules at endosomal/lysosomal pH, whereas CLIP(short) displays a lower off-rate. The N-terminal 9 residues of CLIP (81-89) facilitate its rapid release (Urban et al. 1994, Kropshofer et al. 1995a, Kropshofer et al. 1995b). The non-classical MHC class II molecule HLA-DM (DM) functions as a mediator of peptide exchange by accelerating the removal of CLIP. DM mediated peptide release involves a direct interaction between DM and the class II molecule. In addition to peptide release, DM also acts as a chaperone for MHC class II molecules in endosomal/lysosomal compartments. It stabilizes the peptide-receptive empty MHC II molecules and prevents them from unfolding and also favors the generation of high-stability peptide-MHC class II complexes by promoting release of low-stability peptide ligands (Kropshofer et al. 1999, Kropshofer et al. 1997). Another non-classical MHC II molecule HLA-DO (DO), only expressed in B-cells and thymic epithelial cells, binds tightly to DM modulating DM activity both negatively and positively, depending on the amount of DO present in an APC. Heterotypic DR-DM-DO complexes are receptive for peptide loading, in these complexes DO does not appear to be inhibitory (Denzin et al. 1997, Kropshofer et al. 1998, Kropshofer et al. 1999).
Within acidic endocytic compartments Ii is proteolytically cleaved, ultimately freeing the class II peptide-binding groove for loading of antigenic peptides. Ii is degraded in a stepwise manner by a combination of aspartyl and cysteine proteases, following a well defined path with intermediates lip22, lip10 and finally CLIP. The initial Ii cleavage has been ascribed to leupeptin-insensitive cysteine or aspartic proteases, which include aspartyl protease and asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) (Maric et al. 1994, Manoury et al. 2003, Costantino et al. 2008). These proteases generate 22 kDa fragments of Ii (lip22). The trimerization domain of human Ii (residues 134-208) has three possible AEP cleavage sites, Asn148, 165 and 171. Asn171, located at the C-terminal end of helix B, is the demonstrated cleavage site for AEP (Manoury et al. 2003, Jasanoff et al. 1998). This cleavage eliminates the C-terminal trimerization domain of Ii, which causes disassociation of the (MHC II:Ii)3 nonamer and exposes new cleavage sites in the MHC II:lip22 trimers (Villadangos et al. 1999, Guillaume et al. 2008). The residue numbering of Ii given above is based on Uniprot isoform 1.
The cleavage of lip22 occurs in residues 115-125, closer to the C-terminus than CLIP (residues 81-105). The resulting lip10 fragment is approximately 100 residues long and extends just through the C-terminus of the Ii CLIP. The proteases responsible for generating lip10 in vivo are not determined. Cysteine proteases like cathepsin S (CatS) are capable of degrading lip22 to lip10 (Bania et al. 2003) but in the presence of LHVS, an inhibitor of CatS, lip22 degradation is still observed, suggesting that other proteases are involved (Villadangos et al. 1997), possibly aspartic proteinases such as cathepsins D and E (Kageyama et al. 1996). The degradation of lip22 may depend on cell type (Bania et al. 2003). The lip22 and lip10 intermediate forms are still maintained as a nonameric complex due to the existence of the last trimerisation domain in the transmembrane region.
Nonameric MHC II:Ii complex move through the various cisternae to reach the trans-golgi network (TGN), a tubulo-vesicular organelle located at the trans-face of Golgi stacks. From the TGN, MHC II:Ii complexes are targeted to the endocytic pathway for peptide loading.
MHC class II epitopes require protein denaturation and removal of intra- and inter-chain disulphide bonds prior to proteolysis. The lysosomal thiol reductase gamma-IFN-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) has been shown to facilitate MHC class II-restricted antigen (Ag) processing by breaking disulphide bonds. GILT is constitutively expressed in APCs. The reduction of disulphide bonds by mature GILT is optimal at acidic pH (Hastings et al. 2006, Arunachalam et al. 2000).
MHC II alpha beta dimers associate with a third polypeptide, the invariant chain (Ii), required for class II molecules to reach the endocytic pathway (Roche et al. 1991). The interaction of Ii with the MHC II alpha beta dimer serves multiple functions. It plays a role in assembly, folding, egress from the ER and transport through the Golgi. Ii exists as a trimer; residues 163-183 of the Ii lumenal domain are involved in covalent cross-linking. Residues 96-104 are critical for association with class II alpha beta dimers (Bijlmakers et al. 1994, Freisewinkel et al. 1993). Residues 89-104 known as CLIP (Class II-associated invariant chain peptide) are the part of the Ii chain that binds antigen binding MHC class II groove, remaining bound until the MHC receptor is completely assembled. This CLIP domain prevents the premature binding of self-peptide fragments present in ER prior to MHC II localization within the endosomal compartment. The ER-resident chaperone protein calnexin rapidly associates with newly synthesized alpha, beta and invariant chains, and remains associated until the final nonamer assembly. The stoichiometry of calnexin in this interaction and the dynamics of association-dissociation are not known. Calnexin may stabilize the free class II chains and regulate their intracellular transport by facilitating the production of transport competent molecules out of the ER (Anderson & Cresswell 1994, Schreiber et al. 1995).
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DataNodes
Dynactin
microtubuleDynactin
microtubuleRILP
ORP1L complexGTP Sec23p Sec24p Sec13p
Sec31p ComplexIi trimer
calnexinAnnotated Interactions
Dynactin
microtubuleDynactin
microtubuleDynactin
microtubuleDynactin
microtubuleRILP
ORP1L complexRILP
ORP1L complexGTP Sec23p Sec24p Sec13p
Sec31p ComplexGTP Sec23p Sec24p Sec13p
Sec31p ComplexIi trimer
calnexin