FcγRIIb on liver sinusoidal endothelium clears small immune complexes

Scavenger receptor B1, the HDL receptor, is expressed abundantly in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells

Cholesterol from peripheral tissue, carried by HDL, is metabolized in the liver after uptake by the HDL receptor, SR-B1. Hepatocytes have long been considered the only liver cells expressing SR-B1; however, in this study we describe two disparate immunofluorescence (IF) experiments that suggest otherwise. Using high-resolution confocal microscopy employing ultrathin (120 nm) sections of mouse liver, improving z-axis resolution, we identified the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC), marked by FcγRIIb, as the cell within the liver expressing abundant SR-B1. In contrast, the hepatocyte, identified with β-catenin, expressed considerably weaker levels, although optical resolution of SR-B1 was inadequate. Thus, we moved to a different IF strategy, first separating dissociated liver cells by gradient centrifugation into two portions, hepatocytes (parenchymal cells) and LSEC (non-parenchymal cells). Characterizing both portions for the cellular expression of SR-B1 by flow cytometry, we found that LSEC expressed considerable amounts of SR-B1 while in hepatocytes SR-B1 expression was barely perceptible. Assessing mRNA of SR-B1 by real time PCR we found messenger expression in LSEC to be about 5 times higher than in hepatocytes.

Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in purified, uncultured human liver cells and activated hepatic stellate cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Liver fibrogenesis - scarring of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer - is characterized by hepatocyte impairment, capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. To date, the molecular determinants of a healthy human liver cell phenotype remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we assess the transcriptome and the genome-wide promoter methylome specific for purified, non-cultured human hepatocytes, LSECs and HSCs, and investigate the nature of epigenetic changes accompanying transcriptional changes associated with activation of HSCs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Gene expression profile and promoter methylome of purified, uncultured human liver cells and culture-activated HSCs were respectively determined using Affymetrix HG-U219 genechips and by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation coupled to promoter array hybridization. Histone modification patterns were assessed at the single-gene level by chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

We unveil a DNA-methylation-based epigenetic relationship between hepatocytes, LSECs and HSCs despite their distinct ontogeny. We show that liver cell type-specific DNA methylation targets early developmental and differentiation-associated functions. Integrative analysis of promoter methylome and transcriptome reveals partial concordance between DNA methylation and transcriptional changes associated with human HSC activation. Further, we identify concordant histone methylation and acetylation changes in the promoter and putative novel enhancer elements of genes involved in liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides the first epigenetic blueprint of three distinct freshly isolated, human hepatic cell types and of epigenetic changes elicited upon HSC activation.

Inhibitory FcγRIIb-Mediated Soluble Antigen Clearance from Plasma by a pH-Dependent Antigen-Binding Antibody and Its Enhancement by Fc Engineering

Fc engineering can modulate the Fc-FcγR interaction and thus enhance the potency of Abs that target membrane-bound Ags, but it has not been applied to Abs that target soluble Ags. In this study, we revealed a previously unknown function of inhibitory FcγRII in vivo and, using an Ab that binds to Ag pH dependently, demonstrated that the function can be exploited to target soluble Ag. Because pH-dependent Ab dissociates Ag in acidic endosome, its Ag clearance from circulation reflects the cellular uptake rate of Ag/Ab complexes. In vivo studies showed that FcγR but not neonatal FcR contributes to Ag clearance by the pH-dependent Ab, and when Fc binding to mouse FcγRII and III was increased, Ag clearance was markedly accelerated in wild-type mice and FcR γ-chain knockout mice, but the effect was diminished in FcγRII knockout mice. This demonstrates that mouse FcγRII efficiently promotes Ab uptake into the cell and its subsequent recycling back to the cell surface. Furthermore, when a human IgG1 Fc variant with selectively increased binding to human FcγRIIb was tested in human FcγRIIb transgenic mice, Ag clearance was accelerated without compromising the Ab half-life. Taken together, inhibitory FcγRIIb was found to play a prominent role in the cellular uptake of monomeric Ag/Ab immune complexes in vivo, and when the Fc of a pH-dependent Ab was engineered to selectively enhance human FcγRIIb binding, the Ab could accelerate soluble Ag clearance from circulation. We assume such a function would enhance the therapeutic potency of Abs that target soluble Ags.

FcγR dependent mechanisms of cytotoxic, agonistic, and neutralizing antibody activities

Given the widespread use of antibodies of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) class as cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, and neutralizing agents in the therapy of malignant, infectious, and autoimmune diseases, understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for their therapeutic activity is of major importance. While Fcγ receptors (FcγR) have well-appreciated roles as effectors of cytotoxic IgG activity, it has only recently become clear that the functionality of immunomodulatory and neutralizing IgG preparations also depends on cellular FcγRs. Here, we review current models of IgG activity in infectious and inflammatory settings, and examine the importance of cell type-specific expression of FcγRs in determining functional outcome. We discuss how this knowledge may be used to improve the activity of therapeutic antibody preparations and outline important areas of focus for future research.

Releasing the brakes: targeting FcγRIIB on B cells to enhance antibody-dependent lymphoma immunotherapy

The inhibitory Fcγ receptor modulates therapeutic antibody activity by setting a threshold for effector cell activation and removing antibodies from the tumor cell surface. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Roghanian and colleagues demonstrate that antibodies blocking inhibitory Fcγ receptor function can enhance therapeutic antibody activity to allow optimal tumor cell depletion.

Fcγ-receptor-mediated trogocytosis impacts mAb-based therapies: historical precedence and recent developments

A specialized form of trogocytosis occurs when Fcγ receptors on acceptor cells take up and internalize donor cell-associated immune complexes composed of specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) bound to target antigens on donor cells. This trogocytosis reaction, an example of antigenic modulation, has been described in recent clinical correlative studies and in vitro investigations for several mAbs used in cancer immunotherapy, including rituximab and ofatumumab. We discuss the impact of Fcγ-receptor-mediated trogocytosis on the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy and other mAb-based therapies.

Efficient uptake of blood-borne BK and JC polyomavirus-like particles in endothelial cells of liver sinusoids and renal vasa recta

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are specialized scavenger cells that mediate high-capacity clearance of soluble waste macromolecules and colloid material, including blood-borne adenovirus. To explore if LSECs function as a sink for other viruses in blood, we studied the fate of virus-like particles (VLPs) of two ubiquitous human DNA viruses, BK and JC polyomavirus, in mice. Like complete virions, VLPs specifically bind to receptors and enter cells, but unlike complete virions, they cannot replicate. ¹²⁵I-labeled VLPs were used to assess blood decay, organ-, and hepatocellular distribution of ligand, and non-labeled VLPs to examine cellular uptake by immunohisto- and -cytochemistry. BK- and JC-VLPs rapidly distributed to liver, with lesser uptake in kidney and spleen. Liver uptake was predominantly in LSECs. Blood half-life (∼1 min), and tissue distribution of JC-VLPs and two JC-VLP-mutants (L55F and S269F) that lack sialic acid binding affinity, were similar, indicating involvement of non-sialic acid receptors in cellular uptake. Liver uptake was not mediated by scavenger receptors. In spleen, the VLPs localized to the red pulp marginal zone reticuloendothelium, and in kidney to the endothelial lining of vasa recta segments, and the transitional epithelium of renal pelvis. Most VLP-positive vessels in renal medulla did not express PV-1/Meca 32, suggesting location to the non-fenestrated part of vasa recta. The endothelial cells of these vessels also efficiently endocytosed a scavenger receptor ligand, formaldehyde-denatured albumin, suggesting high endocytic activity compared to other renal endothelia. We conclude that LSECs very effectively cleared a large fraction of blood-borne BK- and JC-VLPs, indicating a central role of these cells in early removal of polyomavirus from the circulation. In addition, we report the novel finding that a subpopulation of endothelial cells in kidney, the main organ of polyomavirus persistence, showed selective and rapid uptake of VLPs, suggesting a role in viremic organ tropism.

Dichotomy in FcγRIIB deficiency and autoimmune-prone SLAM haplotype clarifies the roles of the Fc receptor in development of autoantibodies and glomerulonephritis

Background

The significance of a unique inhibitory Fc receptor for IgG, FcγRIIB (RIIB), in the prevention of spontaneous production of autoantibodies remains controversial, due mainly to the fact that the RIIB locus is adjacent to the autoimmune-related SLAM locus harboring the genes coding for signaling lymphocyte activation molecules, making it difficult to isolate the effect of RIIB deletion from that of SLAM in gene-targeted mice. Our objective was to determine the influence of RIIB deletion on the spontaneous development of autoimmune diseases and to compare it with that of potentially pathogenic SLAM.

Results

We established two congenic C57BL/6 (B6) strains, one with the RIIB deletion and the other with SLAM, by backcrossing 129/SvJ-based RIIB-deficient mice into the B6 genetic background extensively. The RIIB deficiency indeed led to the production and/or accumulation of a small amount of anti-nuclear autoantibodies (ANAs) and to weak IgG immune-complex deposition in glomeruli without any obvious manifestation of lupus nephritis. In contrast, pathogenic SLAM in the B6 genetic background induced ANAs but no IgG immune-complex deposition in the kidneys. Naïve SLAM mice but not RIIB-deficient mice exhibited hyperplasia of splenic germinal centers.

Conclusion

The present results clarify the roles of RIIB in preventing production and/or accumulation of a small amount of ANAs, and development of glomerulonephritis. The combined effects of RIIB deletion and pathogenic SLAM can lead to severe lupus nephritis in the B6 genetic background.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12865-014-0047-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The mechanism of anti-CD20-mediated B cell depletion revealed by intravital imaging

Anti-CD20 Ab therapy has proven successful for treating B cell malignancies and a number of autoimmune diseases. However, how anti-CD20 Abs operate in vivo to mediate B cell depletion is not fully understood. In particular, the anatomical location, the type of effector cells, and the mechanism underlying anti-CD20 therapy remain uncertain. Here, we found that the liver is a major site for B cell depletion and that recirculation accounts for the decrease in B cell numbers observed in secondary lymphoid organs. Using intravital imaging, we established that, upon anti-CD20 treatment, Kupffer cells (KCs) mediate the abrupt arrest and subsequent engulfment of B cells circulating in the liver sinusoids. KCs were also effective in depleting malignant B cells in a model of spontaneous lymphoma. Our results identify Ab-dependent cellular phagocytosis by KCs as a primary mechanism of anti-CD20 therapy and provide an experimental framework for optimizing the efficacy of therapeutic Abs.

Immune surveillance by the liver

Receiving both portal vein blood and arterial blood, the liver is an important and critical component in the defense against blood-borne infection. To accomplish this role, the liver contains numerous innate and adaptive immune cells that specialize in detection and capture of pathogens from the blood. Further, these immune cells participate in coordinated immune responses leading to pathogen clearance, leukocyte recruitment and antigen presentation to lymphocytes within the vasculature. Finally, this role in host defense must be tightly regulated to ensure that inappropriate immune responses are not raised against nonpathogenic exogenous blood-borne molecules, such as those derived from food. It is this balance between activation and tolerance that characterizes the liver as a frontline immunological organ.