Regulation of dendritic cell migration by CD74, the MHC class II-associated invariant chain

G Faure-André, P Vargas, MI Yuseff, M Heuzé, J Diaz… - Science, 2008 - science.org
G Faure-André, P Vargas, MI Yuseff, M Heuzé, J Diaz, D Lankar, V Steri, J Manry, S Hugues…
Science, 2008science.org
Dendritic cells (DCs) sample peripheral tissues of the body in search of antigens to present
to T cells. This requires two processes, antigen processing and cell motility, originally
thought to occur independently. We found that the major histocompatibility complex II–
associated invariant chain (Ii or CD74), a known regulator of antigen processing, negatively
regulates DC motility in vivo. By using microfabricated channels to mimic the confined
environment of peripheral tissues, we found that wild-type DCs alternate between high and …
Dendritic cells (DCs) sample peripheral tissues of the body in search of antigens to present to T cells. This requires two processes, antigen processing and cell motility, originally thought to occur independently. We found that the major histocompatibility complex II–associated invariant chain (Ii or CD74), a known regulator of antigen processing, negatively regulates DC motility in vivo. By using microfabricated channels to mimic the confined environment of peripheral tissues, we found that wild-type DCs alternate between high and low motility, whereas Ii-deficient cells moved in a faster and more uniform manner. The regulation of cell motility by Ii depended on the actin-based motor protein myosin II. Coupling antigen processing and cell motility may enable DCs to more efficiently detect and process antigens within a defined space.
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