Requirement for endocytic antigen processing and influence of invariant chain and H-2M deficiencies in CNS autoimmunity

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Abstract

The role of processing in antigen (Ag) presentation and T cell activation in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was evaluated in wild-type mice, mice that selectively express either Ii p31 or p41, and mice completely deficient in Ii or H-2M. We demonstrate that processing of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is required for presentation of the dominant encephalitogenic MOG epitope, p35-55. Ii p31- and p41-expressing mice developed EAE with similar incidence to wild-type mice, although p41 mice had a more severe course. Ag-presenting cells (APCs) from Ii- or H-2M–deficient mice could present p35-55, but not MOG, demonstrating that these APCs could not process native MOG. Ii- and H-2M–deficient mice were not susceptible to EAE by immunization with p35-55 or MOG or by adoptive transfer of encephalitogenic T cells. However, CD4+ T cells from p35-55–immunized H-2M–deficient mice proliferated, secreted IFN-γ, and transferred EAE to wild-type, but not H-2M–deficient, mice. Thus, EAE resistance in H-2M–deficient mice is not due to an inability of APCs to present p35-55, or an intrinsic defect in the encephalitogenic T cell repertoire, but reflects a defect in APC function. Our results indicate that processing is required for initial Ag presentation and CNS T cell activation and suggest that autopathogenic peptides of CNS autoantigen may not be readily available for presentation without processing.

Authors

Anthony J. Slavin, Jeanne M. Soos, Olaf Stuve, Juan C. Patarroyo, Howard L. Weiner, Adriano Fontana, Elizabeth K. Bikoff, Scott S. Zamvil