Efficient presentation of exogenous antigen by liver endothelial cells to CD8+ T cells results in antigen-specific T-cell tolerance.
Myeloid antigen-presenting cells (APC) are known to cross-present exogenous antigen on major histocompatibility class I molecules to CD8+ T cells and thereby induce protective immunity against infecting microorganisms. Here we report that liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) are organ-resident, non-myeloid APC capable of cross-presenting soluble exogenous antigen to CD8+ T cells. Though LSEC employ similar molecular mechanisms for cross-presentation as dendritic cells, the outcome of cross-presentation by LSEC is CD8+ T cell tolerance rather than immunity. As uptake of circulating antigens into LSEC occurs efficiently in vivo, it is likely that cross-presentation by LSEC contributes to CD8+ T cell tolerance observed in situations where soluble antigen is present in the circulation.
Limmer
A
A
Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie Heidelberg (ZMBH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Ohl
J
J
Kurts
C
C
Ljunggren
H G
HG
Reiss
Y
Y
Groettrup
M
M
Momburg
F
F
Arnold
B
B
Knolle
P A
PA
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D010047:Ovalbumin