Visualizing the site and dynamics of IgG salvage by the MHC class I-related receptor, FcRn

RJ Ober, C Martinez, C Vaccaro, J Zhou… - The Journal of …, 2004 - journals.aai.org
RJ Ober, C Martinez, C Vaccaro, J Zhou, ES Ward
The Journal of Immunology, 2004journals.aai.org
The MHC class I-related receptor, FcRn, plays a central role in regulating the serum levels of
IgG. FcRn is expressed in endothelial cells, suggesting that these cells may be involved in
maintaining IgG levels. We have used live cell imaging of FcRn-green fluorescent protein
transfected human endothelial cells to analyze the intracellular events that control IgG
homeostasis. We show that segregation of FcRn-IgG complexes from unbound IgG occurs in
the sorting endosome. FcRn or FcRn-IgG complexes are gradually depleted from sorting …
Abstract
The MHC class I-related receptor, FcRn, plays a central role in regulating the serum levels of IgG. FcRn is expressed in endothelial cells, suggesting that these cells may be involved in maintaining IgG levels. We have used live cell imaging of FcRn-green fluorescent protein transfected human endothelial cells to analyze the intracellular events that control IgG homeostasis. We show that segregation of FcRn-IgG complexes from unbound IgG occurs in the sorting endosome. FcRn or FcRn-IgG complexes are gradually depleted from sorting endosomes to ultimately generate multivesicular bodies whose contents are destined for lysosomal degradation. In addition, the pathways taken by FcRn and the transferrin receptor overlap, despite distinct mechanisms of ligand uptake. The studies provide a dynamic view of the trafficking of FcRn and its ligand and have relevance to understanding how FcRn functions to maintain IgG homeostasis.
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