Volume 172, Issue 1 p. 131-152

Alternative pathways for processing exogenous and endogenous antigens that can generate peptides for MHC class I-restricted presentation

Jörg Reimann

Corresponding Author

Jörg Reimann

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

Jörg Reimann, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Ulm Helmholtzstr, 8/1 D-89081 Ulm Germany Fax: 49 731 503 3654 e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
Reinhold Schirmbeck

Reinhold Schirmbeck

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

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First published: 28 April 2006
Citations: 84

Acknowledgements
We are very grateful for critical comments, preprints, discussions and suggestions from Drs H.-G. Ljunggren (Stockholm, Sweden), M.-J, Wick (Lund, Sweden), F. Dice (Boston, USA), T. H. Hansen (St Louis, USA), J. Yewdell (Bechesda, USA), G. Hammerling (Heidelberg, Germany), and A. Mowat (Glasgow, Scotland).

Abstract

Summary: The concept of distinct endogenous and exogenous pathways for generating peptides for MHC-I and MHC-II-restricted presemation to CD4+ or CD8+ T cells fits well with the bulk of experimental data. Nevertheless, evidence is emerging for alternative processing pathways that generate peptides for MHC-I-restricted presentation. Using a well characterized, particulate viral antigen of prominent medical importance (the hepatitis B surface antigen), we summarize our evidence that the efficient, endolysosomal processing of exogenous antigens can lead to peptide-loaded MHC-I molecules. In addition, we describe evidence for endolysosomal processing of mutant, stress protein-bound, endogenous antigens that liberate peptides binding to (and presented by) MHC-I molecules. The putative biological role of alternative processing of antigens generating cytotoxic T lymphocyte-stimulating epitopes is discussed.

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