Poster Presentation Lorne Infection and Immunity 2020

The neonatal Fc receptor regulates the presentation of antigens targeted to the dendritic cell receptor DEC205 (#112)

Christophe Macri 1 , Xiao Peng Lin 1 , Irina Caminschi 2 , Mireille Lahoud 2 , Paul Gleeson 1 , Justine Mintern 1
  1. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  2. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

Receptor targeted vaccination is a new model of antigen delivery that relies on the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to target antigen to specific dendritic cell (DC) subsets. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is a non-classical Fc receptor that binds to immunoglobulins in acidified endosomes and controls their transport and recycling. FcRn is known to participate in the antigen presentation of immune complexes, however its contribution to the presentation of mAb receptor-targeted vaccination has not previously been examined. Here we have examined the role of FcRn in antigen presentation outcomes using antigen conjugated to mAb targeting specific DC receptors including DEC205 and Clec9A. First, we show that FcRn is expressed at high levels by the conventional DC 1 (cDC1) subset, both at steady-state and following activation. Second, we observe FcRn to play a significant role in MHC I cross-presentation and MHC II presentation of several antigens that are targeted to DC via mAb specific for DEC205, a receptor at the surface of cDC1. In contrast, FcRn does not play any role in the presentation of antigens conjugated to mAb specific for the cDC1 receptor Clec9A. These data highlight a new and unique role of FcRn in controlling the immunological outcome of anti-DEC205-based vaccination. To determine the mechanism behind this specificity, we are currently analysing the role of FcRn in the persistence of antigen-conjugated mAb in vivo, their intracellular trafficking in cDC1 and the consequences for FcRn in anti-DEC205 mediated tumour immunity.