Uptake of antigen by afferent lymph dendritic cells mediated by antibody

Dendritic cells isolated from sheep afferent lymph were examined for their ability to bind soluble protein and peptide antigens labeled with fluorescein both in in vitro assays and following intradermal injection of antigen in vivo. Analysis of dendritic cells by flow cytometry revealed weak direct binding of proteins and peptide antigens. However, the degree of uptake was greatly enhanced in the presence of specific antibody in vitro or if antigen was injected intradermally into antigen-primed sheep. About 60% of dendritic cells possessed the ability to take up antigen in both the in vitro and in vivo experiments. The uptake of antigen occurred very rapidly, reaching maximum values in terms of cell numbers and fluorescence intensity in less than 5 min in vitro and 20-40 min following in vivo challenge. Both sheep IgG subclasses could mediate this effect, but F(ab')2 fragments were ineffective. Procedures adopted to remove complement components from the in vitro test mixtures did not result in any reduction in the binding of antigen by dendritic cells. Two-color flow cytometry analysis of the dendritic cell population further showed that 43% of cells taking up the antigen/antibody complexes were CD1+, suggesting a relationship between these cells and Langerhans' cells or other dendritic cells in skin. The results, thus, indicate that approximately two thirds of sheep afferent lymph dendritic cells bind antigen/antibody complexes via an Fc receptor, a mechanism which could be important in the accentuated accessory function of these cells known to occur following secondary antigen challenge.