Antigen targeting to myeloid-specific human Fc gamma RI/CD64 triggers enhanced antibody responses in transgenic mice.

IA Heijnen, MJ Van Vugt, NA Fanger… - The Journal of …, 1996 - Am Soc Clin Investig
IA Heijnen, MJ Van Vugt, NA Fanger, RF Graziano, TP De Wit, FM Hofhuis, PM Guyre…
The Journal of clinical investigation, 1996Am Soc Clin Investig
Besides their phagocytic effector functions, myeloid cells have an essential role as
accessory cells in the induction of optimal humoral immune responses by presenting
captured antigens and activating lymphocytes. Antigen presentation by human monocytes
was recently found to be enhanced in vitro through the high-affinity Fc receptor for IgG (Fc
gamma RI; CD64), which is exclusively present on myeloid cells. To evaluate a comparable
role of Fc gamma RI in antigen presentation in vivo, we generated human Fc gamma RI …
Besides their phagocytic effector functions, myeloid cells have an essential role as accessory cells in the induction of optimal humoral immune responses by presenting captured antigens and activating lymphocytes. Antigen presentation by human monocytes was recently found to be enhanced in vitro through the high-affinity Fc receptor for IgG (Fc gamma RI; CD64), which is exclusively present on myeloid cells. To evaluate a comparable role of Fc gamma RI in antigen presentation in vivo, we generated human Fc gamma RI transgenic mice. Under control of its endogenous promoter, human Fc gamma RI was selectively expressed on murine myeloid cells at physiological expression levels. As in humans, expression was properly regulated by the cytokines IFN-gamma, G-CSF, IL-4, and IL-10, and was up-regulated during inflammation. The human receptor expressed by murine macrophages bound monomeric human IgG and mediated particle phagocytosis and IgG complex internalization. To evaluate whether specific targeting of antigens to Fc gamma RI can induce enhanced antibody responses, mice were immunized with an anti-human Fc gamma RI antibody containing antigenic determinants. Transgenic mice produced antigen-specific antibody responses with high IgG1 titers and substantial IgG2a and IgG2b responses. These data demonstrate that human Fc gamma RI on myeloid cells is highly active in mediating enhanced antigen presentation in vivo, and show that anti-Fc gamma RI mAbs are promising vaccine adjuvants.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation