Processing of proteins for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted presentation to CD4-positive T lymphocytes occurs after they are internalized by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Antigenic proteins frequently contain disulfide bonds, and their reduction in the endocytic pathway facilitates processing. In humans, a gamma interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) is constitutively present in late endocytic compartments of APCs. Here, we identified the mouse homolog of GILT and generated a GILT knockout mouse. GILT facilitated the processing and presentation to antigen-specific T cells of protein antigens containing disulfide bonds. The response to hen egg lysozyme, a model antigen with a compact structure containing four disulfide bonds, was examined in detail.
Pubmed ID: 11701933 RIS Download
Mesh terms: Amino Acid Sequence | Animals | Antigen Presentation | Antigen-Presenting Cells | Antigens | Cell Line | Dendritic Cells | Disulfides | Epitopes | Histocompatibility Antigens Class II | Hybridomas | Hydrogen-Ion Concentration | Immunization | Mice | Mice, Inbred C57BL | Mice, Knockout | Molecular Sequence Data | Muramidase | Oxidoreductases | Protein Conformation | Protein Folding | Spleen | T-Lymphocytes
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