Uptake of membrane molecules from T cells endows antigen-presenting cells with novel functional properties.
Although intercellular transfer of cell surface molecules has been observed between several cells of the immune system, the physiological relevance of this phenomenon remained obscure. Until now the transfer of molecules between antigen-presenting cells (APC) and T cells has been described as a unidirectional process from APC to T cells. However, here we show that T cells in turn donate molecules to APC, and that T cell-derived vesicles can mediate this transfer. The transferred proteins are incorporated into the APC as active molecules. Our data provide evidence that T cells use intercellular molecule transfer to mediate cell contact-dependent regulation of T cell responses via modulation of the APC.
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Division of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Esther N M
EN
Nolte-'t Hoen
Josée P A
JP
Wagenaar-Hilbers
Peter J
PJ
Peters
Bart M
BM
Gadella
Willem
W
van Eden
Marca H M
MH
Wauben
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018833:Chaperonins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006239:Haplotypes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C074119:heat-shock protein 65, Mycobacterium; C118872:myelin basic protein 72-85; D018833:Chaperonins