The JI
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
 


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Related articles in The JI
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Roopenian, D. C.
Right arrow Articles by Anderson, C. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Roopenian, D. C.
Right arrow Articles by Anderson, C. L.
The Journal of Immunology, 2003, 170: 3528-3533.
Copyright © 2003 by The American Association of Immunologists

The MHC Class I-Like IgG Receptor Controls Perinatal IgG Transport, IgG Homeostasis, and Fate of IgG-Fc-Coupled Drugs1

Derry C. Roopenian2,*, Gregory J. Christianson*, Thomas J. Sproule*, Aaron C. Brown*, Shreeram Akilesh*, Nadja Jung*, Stefka Petkova*, Lia Avanessian*, Eun Young Choi*, Daniel J. Shaffer*, Peter A. Eden* and Clark L. Anderson{dagger}

* The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609; and {dagger} Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Abs of the IgG isotype are efficiently transported from mother to neonate and have an extended serum t1/2 compared with Abs of other isotypes. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the MHC class I-related protein, the neonatal FcR (FcRn), is the FcR responsible for both in vivo functions. To understand the phenotypes imposed by FcRn, we produced and analyzed mice with a defective FcRn gene. The results provide direct evidence that perinatal IgG transport and protection of IgG from catabolism are mediated by FcRn, and that the latter function is key to IgG homeostasis, essential for generating a potent IgG response to foreign Ags, and the basis of enhanced efficacy of Fc-IgG-based therapeutics. FcRn is therefore a promising therapeutic target for enhancing protective humoral immunity, treating autoimmune disease, and improving drug efficacy.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Immunoglobulin G Abs comprise the major class responsible for long-term humoral immunity. They can also act as pathological effectors of systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, organ-specific diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, myastenia gravis, and spontaneous abortion in multiparous females. Two strategies have evolved to maximize the effectiveness of these Abs. The first is to ensure that IgG is efficiently transported from mother to neonate, thus engendering in newborn animals protective immunity. The second is to ensure that IgG produced as a consequence of antigenic exposure is available for long-term protective immunity. Similar to most other serum proteins, Abs of non-IgG subclasses have a relatively short t1/2 (~1–2 days). In contrast, the t1/2 of most IgG Abs is considerably longer (~6–8 days in mice (1) and 22–23 days in humans (2)), increasing the availability of sufficient specific IgG to resolve infection. This homeostatic mechanism is absolutely dependent on the Fc region of IgG (reviewed in Ref. 3). Exploiting this mechanism has additionally proven to be an important component of drug design in that the coupling of IgG Fc to therapeutic proteins considerably extends their pharmacokinetics (3).

Brambell (4) hypothesized many years ago that perinatal transport and IgG homeostasis were consistent with receptor-mediated events, and proposed that a similar receptor might be responsible for both functions. The best candidate for Brambell’s common receptor is the so-called neonatal FcR (FcRn),3 originally identified by Simister and colleagues (5, 6). FcRn is a distant member of the MHC class I protein family, most members of which act as ligands for T cell and NK receptors. However, FcRn has diverged evolutionarily to bind the hinge region of IgG Fc at a low pH (~6–6.5) (7). FcRn is highly expressed in the neonatal rodent gut and, more weakly, in adult tissues such as the vascular endothelium, where it is thought to perform its IgG protection function (8). Intracellularly, FcRn resides primarily in the early acidic endosomal vesicles, where it is thought to bind and then recycle endocytosed IgG normally destined for endosomal degradation (9, 10, 11).

Because a functional FcRn molecule is dependent on dimerization with {beta}2-microglobulin ({beta}2m), the obligate L chain of all class I proteins, {beta}2m-deficient mice have been used as a model for understanding the in vivo biology of FcRn. However, this model is encumbered by the many immunological and nonimmunological processes dependent on this common class I L chain, including the elaboration of CD8 T cells, natural T cells, conventional NK cells (reviewed in Ref. 12), the control of serum iron concentration (13), and neuronal plasticity (14). {beta}2m-deficient neonatal mice fail to take up maternal IgG (15), and their adult counterparts have an abnormally short IgG t1/2 and reduced homeostatic IgG levels (16, 17, 18). Studies have variably reported that IgG responses to antigenic stimuli are reduced (16, 19) or increased (20, 21) in {beta}2m-deficient mice, and similarly variable effects have been reported in mouse models for autoimmune diseases with an Ab etiology (16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) (D. Roopenian, manuscript in preparation). The phenotypes imposed in vivo as a direct consequence of FcRn thus remain to be established.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Production of FcRn-deficient and human FcRn-transgenic mice

To produce a standard FcRn targeting vector, a 2.7-kb 129/J-derived genomic BamHI fragment carrying sequences 5' of the FcRn transcriptional start site was inserted upstream of PGK-Neor into a pGTN/28 targeting vector (New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA), and a 5.2-kb fragment starting at the ApaI site in exon 2 was inserted 3'. The 129/SvJ-derived ESV/J-1182 embryonic stem cells (Genome Systems, St. Louis, MO) were electroporated with the NotI-linearized targeting construct. DNAs from clones surviving G418 selection were digested with EcoRV for Southern blot screening for homologous recombination of the 5' targeting vector arm and with EcoRV + HindIII for recombination of the 3' arm. PCR amplicons based on DNA sequences immediately 5' and 3' of the targeting vector arm were then used as probes for Southern blotting, and identified embryonic stem cell clone 573 carried the predicted 5' and 3' restriction fragment. After genotypic confirmation, clone 573 was injected into C57BL/6J (B6) blastocysts and implanted into pseudopregnant B6 mice by The Jackson Laboratory Cell Biology and Microinjection Service. Chimeric mice and their germline transmitting progeny were typed by PCR using primers designed to distinguish the targeted from the wild-type (wt) FcRn alleles: FcRn o393 F-GGGATGCCACTGCCCTG, FcRn vs o394 R-CGAGCCTGAGATTGTCAAGTGTATT, 248-bp wt allele; targeting vector o395 F-GGAATTCCCAGTGAAGGGC vs o394, 378-bp targeted allele. Protein expression of both mouse FcRn and the human FcRn transgene (see below) was determined by Western blot analysis using an antiserum produced by immunizing FcRn-deficient mice with recombinant, bacterially expressed human FcRn in CFA, followed by boosts with the same protein in IFA. Protein extracts (25 µg) from neonatal small intestine were separated on a 4–20% gradient gel, transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride membrane, and incubated with antiserum against FcRn as a primary Ab and HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse Ig (BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA) as a secondary Ab. {beta}-actin was revealed using a rabbit anti-mouse {beta}-actin antiserum (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) and a HRP-conjugated donkey anti-rabbit F(ab')2 (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ) as a secondary Ab. Bands were visualized by ECL detection. To produce mice transgenically expressing a complete human FcRn gene, a 34-kb XhoI fragment was excised from a human-derived bacterial artificial chromosome (Genome Systems) and cloned into a SuperCos vector (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA). This fragment, which encompasses the complete ~11-kb FcRn gene plus ~10-kb 5' and 3', was microinjected into zygotes from C57BL/6J female mice, and implanted into pseudopregnant female mice. A chimeric, germline transmitting male founder was used to establish the C57BL/6J-human FcRn transgenic line 44. Expression of human FcRn was confirmed by RT-PCR (not shown) and by Western blot analysis. Unless otherwise indicated, mice ranged from 6 to 12 wk of age and were age and sex matched within each experiment. FcRn-/- mice used as indicated were either mixed 129:B6 stocks, congenic B6 background (generated after five backcross generations), or isogenic 129/J background stocks. FcRn-/- human FCRN transgenic mice were on a mixed 129:B6 genetic background.

Ig transfer and clearance

For maternal Ig transfer, a female FcRn+/- mouse was mated to a male FcRn-/- mouse. At 17 days of gestation, the pregnant female was injected i.v. with 500 µg IgG1 anti-trinitrophenyl (TNP) (mAb 1B7.11) tracer Ab. Sera from her 3-day-old pups were assayed for anti-TNP Ab activity by ELISA, and their liver DNA was used to determine their FcRn genotypes. Ig clearance in adult mice was determined as described (16). Briefly, 100 µg of mouse IgG1 anti-TNP, mouse IgA anti-TNP (mAb 2F.11.15), purified human IgG (GammaGuard; Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, IL), or directly biotinylated mouse IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 (Sigma-Aldrich) tracer was injected into mice i.p., and sera prepared from retro-orbital plexus blood were assayed by ELISA. {beta}-phase Ig tracer clearance was based on the amount of Ig retained normalized to that present 24 h after injection.

Serum Ig concentrations and flow cytometry

Total serum Ig and specific mouse isotypes were quantified as described (16, 22). Total Ig and isotype quantification was based on duplicate serum dilutions in which at least two dilutions hit the exponential curve of serially diluted Ig standards: Ig (Calbiochem, San Diego, CA), IgG1 (BD PharMingen, San Diego, CA), IgG2a (PharMingen), IgG2b (Southern Biotechnology, Birmingham, AL), IgG3 (Southern Biotechnology), IgM (BD PharMingen), and IgA (Southern Biotechnology). Data are expressed as equivalents of Ig compared with the Ab standards. For flow cytometry, splenocytes or bone marrow cells were isolated and incubated with propidium iodide and specific conjugated Abs at 4°C for 50 min in staining buffer (1x PBS with 0.1% BSA and 0.1% sodium azide), washed twice, and then analyzed with live cell gating using a FACSCalibur equipped with CellQuest software (BD Biosciences). Conjugated mAbs, CD4 CY3+, CD8a PE, CD45R/B220 APC, CD45R/B220 Cy5, CD19 FITC, and CD138 APC, were obtained from BD Pharmingen.

Quantitative PCR analysis and 5' RACE

Tissues were collected into RNALater (Ambion, Austin, TX), and total RNA was purified using the RNAqueous 4-PCR kit (Ambion) and DNase treated. Synthesis of cDNA from 5–10 µl total RNA was conducted using the Retroscript kit (Ambion). For FcRn expression analysis, PCR primers MuFcRn.5F, 5'-CCTCAAGACCCTGGAGAAGATATTAA-3'; MuFcRn.5R, 5'-CCGTGGGCACTGAGGAATTA-3'; and a TaqMan probe MuFcRn.5P, 5'-6FAM-CTGCTGGGCTGTGAACTGGCCTC-TAMRA-3', were used to amplify and detect a 94-bp cDNA fragment spanning FcRn exons 3 and 4. Reactions (in triplicate) containing the equivalent of 0.5 µl cDNA in the presence of TaqMan PCR Master Mix were run in duplex with the TaqMan 18S Ribosomal RNA Control (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA), and the ABI Prism 7700 was used for real-time detection. Mean Ct were calculated; the FcRn expression levels were determined via the ddCt method (Applied Biosystems User Bulletin 2); and expression levels are represented relative to skeletal muscle. The ImmunoQuantArray customized gene expression platform, including the list of genes analyzed and the Global Pattern Recognition (GPR) expression analytical algorithm, has been described4 (http://www.jax.org/research/roop/). The 5' RACE of liver cDNA was performed using Ambion 5' mRNA oligonucleotide adaptors and exon 5 FcRn outer and inner exon 4/5 junction reverse primers. No fragments were detected after 38 amplification cycles using the outer oligonucleotide primers, and only fragments with sizes inconsistent with the expected normal FcRn transcript size were detected with FcRn-/- mice cDNAs after the 38-cycle amplification using the nested primers. These fragments were cloned, sequenced, and proved to be from transcripts unrelated to FcRn.

Specific Ab responses after immunization and ELISPOT

Mice were immunized and challenged with 100 µg DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) (Calbiochem, San Diego, CA), and sera from retro-orbital plexus blood were assayed for anti-DNP activity, as described (16). For ELISPOT, MultiScreen-HA plates (Millipore, Bedford, MA) were coated with 10 µg/ml of either DNP-KLH, goat anti-mouse IgG, or 100 µg/ml BSA in ELISA coating buffer at 4°C overnight. The plates were then washed three times with PBS and blocked with DMEM medium containing 5% FBS for 1 h at room temperature. Serial dilutions (starting at 1 x 106 cells/well) of spleen and bone marrow cells were added to the wells. The plates were incubated at 37°C with 5% CO2 overnight and washed three times with PBS-Tween; Goat anti-mouse{kappa}-alkaline phosphatase (0.5 µg/ml; Southern Biotechnology) was then added to each well. After a 1-h incubation at 37°C, the plates were washed three times with PBS-Tween, followed by PBS and chromogen substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate/nitro blue tetrazolium (Sigma-Aldrich). The plates were then incubated in the presence of chromogen substrate at room temperature for 1 h, and the reaction was terminated by a water wash. Data are reported as the number of spots enumerated in the Ab-coated wells minus those obtained with the corresponding BSA-coated plates.

Costimulator blockade

B6-FcRn-/- and B6 wt control mice were injected i.p. on day -3 with PBS or 20 µg purified CTLA-4 Ig (27) and 20 µg anti-CD40 ligand (CD40L) IgG1 (28) in PBS (kindly provided by B. Soper, The Jackson Laboratory), grafted 1 day later with allogeneic 129/J tail skin, and injected with 12 µg purified CTLA-4 Ig and 12 µg anti-CD40L IgG1 3 days later. Graft survival was scored according to the method of Bailey and Usama (29), and analyzed by Kaplin-Meier Analysis (StatView; Abacus Concepts, Berkeley, CA).


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Production, verification, and overall health of FcRn-deficient mice

To address the role of FcRn in vivo, we used gene targeting to produce mice with a defective FcRn gene. Homologous recombination resulted in the insertion of a neomycin-resistance cassette and the deletion of a 1588-nt fragment that encompassed the promotor and extended through most of exon 2 to the ApaI site (Fig. 1, A and B). Quantitative PCR of cDNA from livers indicated that FcRn-/- mice produced a minimal signal (Fig. 1C), and extensive 5' RACE analysis failed to detect any FcRn-specific transcript (Fig. 1D and data not shown). Western blot analysis of neonatal intestine extracts probed with an anti-FcRn antiserum failed to reveal any hybridized product (Fig. 1E).



View larger version (26K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 1. Production and verification of FcRn-deficient mice. A, FcRn targeting scheme (not to scale). B, PCR-based genotypic confirmation of targeted mice. C, Quantitative PCR of liver cDNA using PCR primers and a TAQman probe that revealed a cDNA fragment spanning FcRn exons 3 and 4. Values are reported relative to skeletal muscle. D, 5' RACE of liver cDNA using a reverse FcRn primer originating in exon 3 yields the expected 920-bp fragment in wt mice. E, Western blot analysis of neonatal intestine extracts from FcRn-deficient and human FcRn transgenic mice revealed using anti-FcRn antisera or anti-{beta}-actin antisera. Lanes 1–3, Extracts (25 µg/lane) from intestines of 10-day-old mice. Lane 4, Lung extract (25 µg/lane) from human FcRn-transgenic mouse line 44. Molecular weight markers are indicated in kDa.

 
Unlike {beta}2m-deficient mice, which are prone to perinatal lethality (D. Roopenian, unpublished data), FcRn-/- mice showed no evidence of a failure to thrive. Adult FcRn-/- and wt mice were indistinguishable based on weight and overt health. Histological analysis of liver, lungs, kidneys, and lymphoid organs of adult FcRn-/- mice was normal (data not shown).

FcRn is the receptor required for perinatal IgG transport

To determine directly whether FcRn is responsible for perinatal transfer of maternal IgG, a female FcRn+/- mouse was mated to a male FcRn-/- mouse. In this way, the mother would be FcRn sufficient, while her progeny would be either FcRn-/- or wt. To track maternal IgG transmission, the pregnant female was injected i.v. at 17 days of gestation with anti-TNP IgG1. Her pups were then nursed on the same FcRn+/- mother. Her 3-day-old pups were genotyped for FcRn, and their sera were assayed for anti-TNP Ab activity by ELISA. Anti-TNP IgG1 was evident in sera from wt FcRn+/- neonates, but lowered a minimum of 190-fold in the FcRn-/- littermates (Fig. 2A). Although human neonates acquire their maternal IgG by transplacental routes, neonatal mice acquire most maternal IgG by transintestinal transport (30). Our results suggest that this FcRn-null allele functionally ablated perinatal IgG transport. However, they do not distinguish between the maternofetal vs transintestinal routes.



View larger version (22K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 2. FcRn-deficient neonates are unable to absorb maternal IgG, and adult FcRn-deficient mice clear IgG rapidly. A, Anti-TNP IgG serum concentrations of 3-day-old pups born from an FcRn+/- mother who had been injected i.v. with IgG1 anti-TNP tracer Abs on day 17 of gestation. -/- vs +/-, p < 0.00001 computed using the one-sided Student’s t test. B, Mouse anti-TNP IgG1 mAb and IgA anti-TNP Abs were injected i.p. into groups of four to five 6- to 7-wk-old mice, and the concentration of retained IgG tracer from serially sampled sera was determined. Data are representative of four independent experiments and are shown as the mean ± SEM of the anti-TNP normalized to the day 1 values. In some cases, the SEM was smaller than the plot symbols. Values of p (two-sided t test) for FcRn+/- vs FcRn-/- on days 2–5, p < 0.0001; {beta}2m-/- vs FcRn-/-, p < 0.005, day 5. C, FcRn-/- mice, FcRn+/- littermate controls (two to three per group) were injected i.p. with 25 µg directly biotinylated mouse IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, or IgG3. D, FcRn-/- human FcRn transgenic line 44, FcRn+/+, and FcRn-/- mice were injected with i.p. purified human IgG tracer. Two to three mice/group were, and the data are representative of, three independent experiments. All mice except {beta}2m-/- cohorts were a mixed 129:B6 genetic background.

 
FcRn is responsible for extending the serum IgG t1/2 and for maintaining normal IgG levels

To determine whether FcRn is responsible for the extended t1/2 of IgG, adult FcRn-/- and FcRn-/+, as well as {beta}2m-deficient mice, were injected with tracer anti-TNP IgG1 and IgA Abs, and serial blood samples were tested for the amount of tracer remaining. In FcRn wt mice, the t1/2 of the IgG1 tracer (9 days) was predictably greater in comparison with the IgA tracer (1.4 days) (Fig. 2B). In contrast, the IgG1 t1/2 was considerably shortened in both FcRn-/- (1.4 days) and {beta}2m-/- mice (1.0 days). The small difference in FcRn-/- vs {beta}2m-/- t1/2 was significant (p = 0.004 at day 5), and was observed in multiple experiments. FcRn protected all mouse IgG isotypes, because FcRn-/- and {beta}2m-/- mice demonstrated rapid clearance of biotinylated mouse IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 in comparison with wt mice (Fig. 2C). Moreover, human IgG was cleared rapidly in FcRn-/- mice, but it was protected in FcRn-/- mice onto which a human FcRn transgene had been crossed (Fig. 2D). These results indicated that both mouse and human FcRn play an important role in extending the t1/2 of IgG.

To determine the effects of FcRn deficiency on maintaining homeostatic Ab levels, serum Ig concentrations were determined in FcRn-/- and wt mice on an isogenic 129/J background. FcRn-/- mice had reduced concentrations of all IgG isotypes compared with their wt sex-matched counterparts, but IgM and IgA concentrations did not differ significantly from wt controls (Fig. 3). These results indicated that FcRn plays an important role in IgG homeostasis.



View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 3. FcRn-deficient mice have low serum IgG. Sera from 10-wk-old 129/J FcRn-/- (n = 5) and FcRn+/+ (n = 5) female and male mice were analyzed by ELISA for specific Ig isotypes. *, p < 0.01; **, p < 0.001; NS, p > 0.05. Values shown are the mean ± SEM.

 
An FcRn deficiency does not alter transcriptional and cellular immunological profiles

To determine whether an FcRn deficiency affects the normal immunological status, FcRn-deficient and wt mice were subjected to a battery of phenotypic tests. We first tested whether an FcRn deficiency affects the transcriptional profile of immunologically important genes. RNA samples isolated from spleens and lungs of three replicate 129 mice isogenic for FcRn-/- and three 129-FcRn wt controls were analyzed using an ImmunoQuantArray, a quantitative PCR-based method that allows one to measure simultaneously the expression of 95 genes selected because they play significant roles in immune homeostasis and function.4 Of the genes surveyed, only FcRn showed a significant difference by the global pattern recognition analytical algorithm (Table I). Thus, FcRn deficiency leads to negligible alterations of the transcriptional immunological phenotype.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table I. Transcription profilesa

 
Splenic total leukocyte numbers and leukocyte subsets, including plasma cell numbers, of spleens and bone marrow cells of FcRn-/- and wt mice were indistinguishable by multiparameter flow cytometric analysis (Table II and data not shown). ELISPOT analysis of spleen and bone marrow cells failed to suggest an increase in total or anti-TNP-specific IgG-secreting plasma cells after immunization (Table III). Spleen and lymph node cells from FcRn-/- mice showed normal in vitro proliferative responses to the T cell mitogens, Con A, and anti-CD3 mAbs. Recall proliferative responses to OVA and hen egg lysozyme were indistinguishable from their wt controls (data not shown). Similarly, FcRn-/- and wt spleen cells showed superimposable B cell proliferative responses to LPS and anti-IgM + anti-CD40 Abs (data not shown). Thus, despite lowered homeostatic serum IgG levels, FcRn deficiency does not lead to aberrations in the transcriptional status, cellular composition, or in vitro function of peripheral lymphoid cells.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table II. Flow cytometric analysisa

 

View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table III. ELISPOT analysis after TNP-KLH immunizationa

 
FcRn is required for a robust IgG Ab response

To determine the consequences of an FcRn deficiency on a specific humoral immune response, FcRn-/- and wt C57BL/6 (B6) and 129 background mice were immunized and then challenged 3 wk later with DNP-KLH, and their serum anti-DNP-specific Ig titers were determined. FcRn deficiency on B6 background mice reduced substantially the specific anti-DNP response regardless of IgG Ig isotype (Fig. 4A). This decrease was not a consequence of numbers of plasma cells because TNP-KLH-immunized FcRn-/- and wt mice showed similar numbers of anti-IgG- and anti-TNP-secreting cells by ELISPOT analysis (Table III). On the 129/J background mice, the anti-TNP response was heightened overall, and an FcRn deficiency resulted in a reduction of all anti-DNP IgG isotypes, but it was more episodic compared with B6 background mice (Fig. 4B). Moreover, following immunization, the titers of anti-TNP IgG Abs in 129-FcRn wt mice dropped at an unexpectedly rapid rate given functional FcRn-mediated protection. A more sustained lowering in FcRn-/- mice was observed in total IgG concentrations (Fig. 4C, lower right panel). FcRn protection is known to be saturable at high serum IgG concentrations (half-maximal concentration ~5 mg/ml) (31). Immunization of 129 background mice may have induced sufficient hypergammaglobulinemia to exceed the FcRn saturation capacity, thus resulting in an attenuation of FcRn-mediated protection. Taken together, the data suggest that FcRn plays an important role in controlling the concentrations of serum IgG Abs in response to specific antigenic stimuli provided that the concentrations do not exceed the FcRn saturation threshold.



View larger version (18K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 4. FcRn is required for a robust humoral response. Groups of four to five B6 background (A) and 129 background (B) FcRn-/- and wt FcRn+/- or FcRn+/+ mice were immunized i.p. with DNP-KLH in CFA and challenged 21 days later with DNP-KLH in IFA. Serially sampled sera were analyzed for DNP-specific (A, B) and total Ig (C, 129 only) by ELISA. Values shown are the mean ± SEM.

 
FcRn is required to achieve efficacy of IgG-Fc-conjugated therapeutics

It is well established that the covalent addition of an IgG-derived Fc moiety prolongs drug t1/2 (3). However, whether this extension is solely dependent on FcRn as compared with other FcR is less clear. To determine directly whether FcRn is the molecule responsible for enhancing the pharmacological efficacy of IgG-coupled therapeutics, we addressed whether mice lacking FcRn were refractory to the immunosuppressive effects of a costimulatory blockade including CTLA-4 Ig and anti-CD40L (both of which possess IgG Fc moieties). B6-FcRn-/- and wt controls were treated with a cocktail of CTLA-4 Ig and anti-CD40L IgG1, and grafted with allogeneic 129/J tail skin (Fig. 5). The rate of allograft rejection by FcRn-deficient mice was retarded considerably compared with that of FcRn wt controls, and similar to that observed in mice that received PBS rather than the costimulatory blockade. These results indicated that FcRn is the FcR responsible for the enhanced pharmacological efficacy of IgG-Fc-conjugated drugs.



View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 5. FcRn is required for efficacy of IgG-Fc-conjugated therapeutics. Groups of four or five mice were injected i.p. on days -1 and +3 with CTLA-4 Ig and rat anti-CD40L IgG1, and grafted on day 0 with allogeneic 129/J tail skin. Syngeneic allografts were retained throughout the course of the experiments (not shown).

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
The results reported in this work provide direct evidence that FcRn is Brambell’s hypothesized receptor responsible for both perinatal IgG transport and IgG homeostatic functions. FcRn-deficient mice recapitulated the defective neonatal transport phenotype originally reported in {beta}2m-deficient mice (15). Moreover, FcRn-deficient mice very nearly matched the IgG homeostasis phenotype first observed in {beta}2m-deficient mice (16, 17, 18, 32). However, in multiple experiments, these mice do show a slightly increased IgG serum t1/2 compared with {beta}2m-deficient mice. We were unable to detect any FcRn transcription by 5' RACE or translated product by Western blot analysis (Fig. 1E), arguing against a leaky mutation. It is thus possible that other {beta}2m-dependent proteins act weakly to stabilize IgG. Nevertheless, the results prove unequivocally that FcRn is a critical receptor for both perinatal IgG transport and for extending the t1/2 of IgG Abs in adults.

Until now, the only in vivo model to assess the function of FcRn was using mice deficient in the {beta}2m common L chain. It has therefore been difficult to dissociate the biology imposed by FcRn from that of many other {beta}2m-dependent class I molecules. The FcRn H chain-deficient mice reported in this work make it possible to understand the role of FcRn in vivo. The absence of FcRn did not lead to significant aberrations in the induction of T or B cell responses. However, it diminished the ability to retain normal concentrations of serum IgG. Moreover, the serum concentrations of IgG Abs available after immunization were considerably diminished, while the number of IgG Ab-secreting plasma cells was unchanged. Although we cannot formally exclude the possibility that an FcRn deficiency decreases the amount of IgG secreted by each plasma cell, it is far more likely that the diminished IgG levels are a consequence of excessive IgG clearance. In any case, FcRn plays a pivotal role in maximizing the IgG Abs available for humoral effector mechanisms of immunity. Thus, situations in which {beta}2m-deficient mice are unable to clear viruses efficiently (reviewed in Ref. 12) and are less able to engender protective immunity after immunization (33) could at least in part be explained by their concurrent deficiency in FcRn-mediated protection. A similar explanation can be extended for findings that a {beta}2m deficiency ameliorates humoral pathology associated with systemic lupus erythematosus-like autoimmune diseases and bullous pemphigoid (16, 22, 23, 26, 34, 35). Thus, therapeutics designed to specifically block FcRn could prevent Ab-mediated effector mechanisms normally leading to autoimmune disorders.

This ability of FcRn to conserve IgG has important implications for pharmacological design. Although it is well established that therapeutic IgG Abs and proteins designed to include the Fc region of IgG show improved serum persistence, our studies are the first to show the critical involvement of FcRn to achieve therapeutic efficacy of such molecules. Previous work has shown that the serum persistence of mouse IgG molecules can be shortened or extended by altering hinge region amino acids thought to affect FcRn interaction sites, suggesting that engineering to enhance the FcRn-Fc interaction could lead to more efficacious drugs (reviewed in Ref. 36). Because mouse and human FcRn show differing isotype and species affinity (37) (D. Roopenian, unpublished data), mice deficient in mouse FcRn and transgenic for human FcRn are especially suited for such therapeutic development.

FcRn is a remarkable example of the functional plasticity of class I family proteins. Through minimal structural changes, FcRn has acquired a specialized Fc-binding function (38), resulting in IgG transport and stabilization. The role of IgG Abs in infectious and autoimmune diseases is unresolved. Models in which B cells are depleted, ablated, or developmentally compromised do not directly address this issue because B cells are important for cognate Ag presentation functions as well as acting as precursors for plasma cells. The discrete IgG-lowering phenotype of FcRn-deficient mice should be useful in addressing this central issue.

Note added in proof. We have recently found that FcRn extends the T1/2 of albumin (39).


    Acknowledgments
 
We thank Alexander Chervonsky and Elizabeth Simpson for critical review, Lori Goodwin and Theodore Duffy for excellent technical assistance, and Robin Wesselschmidt from Genome Systems for assistance in gene targeting.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by the Alliance for Lupus Research and National Institutes of Health R01 DK56597 to D.C.R., and HD38764 and CA88053 to C.L.A. Back

2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Derry Roopenian, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. E-mail address: dcr{at}jax.org Back

3 Abbreviations used in this paper: FcRn, neonatal FcR; {beta}2m, {beta}2-microglobulin; CD40L, CD40 ligand; KLH, keyhole limpet hemocyanin; TNP, trinitrophenyl; GpR, Global Pattern Recognition; wt, wild type. Back

4 S. Akilesh, D. J. Shaffer, D. C. Roopenian. Customized molecular phenotyping by quantitative gene expression and pattern recognition analysis. Submitted for publication. Back

Received for publication October 30, 2002. Accepted for publication January 23, 2003.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Vieira, P., K. Rajewsky. 1988. The half-lives of serum immunoglobulins in adult mice. Eur. J. Immunol. 18:313.[Medline]
  2. Spiegelberg, H. L., B. G. Fishkin. 1972. The catabolism of human G immunoglobulins of different heavy chain subclasses. III. The catabolism of heavy chain disease proteins and of Fc fragments of myeloma proteins. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 10:599.[Medline]
  3. Ghetie, V., E. S. Ward. 2000. Multiple roles for the major histocompatibility complex class I-related receptor FcRn. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 18:739.[Medline]
  4. Brambell, F. W.. 1966. The transmission of immunity from mother to young and the catabolism of immunoglobulins. Lancet 2:1087.[Medline]
  5. Ahouse, J. J., C. L. Hagerman, P. Mittal, D. J. Gilbert, N. G. Copeland, N. A. Jenkins, N. E. Simister. 1993. Mouse MHC class I-like Fc receptor encoded outside the MHC. J. Immunol. 151:6076.[Abstract]
  6. Simister, N. E., K. E. Mostov. 1989. An Fc receptor structurally related to MHC class I antigens. Nature 337:184.[Medline]
  7. Raghavan, M., L. N. Gastinel, P. J. Bjorkman. 1993. The class I major histocompatibility complex related Fc receptor shows pH-dependent stability differences correlating with immunoglobulin binding and release. Biochemistry 32:8654.[Medline]
  8. Borvak, J., J. Richardson, C. Medesan, F. Antohe, C. Radu, M. Simionescu, V. Ghetie, E. S. Ward. 1998. Functional expression of the MHC class I-related receptor, FcRn, in endothelial cells of mice. Int. Immunol. 10:1289.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  9. McCarthy, K. M., Y. Yoong, N. E. Simister. 2000. Bidirectional transcytosis of IgG by the rat neonatal Fc receptor expressed in a rat kidney cell line: a system to study protein transport across epithelia. J. Cell Sci. 113:1277.[Abstract]
  10. Praetor, A., I. Ellinger, W. Hunziker. 1999. Intracellular traffic of the MHC class I-like IgG Fc receptor, FcRn, expressed in epithelial MDCK cells. J. Cell Sci. 112:2291.[Abstract]
  11. Ramalingam, T. S., S. A. Detmer, W. L. Martin, P. J. Bjorkman. 2002. IgG transcytosis and recycling by FcRn expressed in MDCK cells reveals ligand-induced redistribution. EMBO J. 21:590.[Medline]
  12. Raulet, D. H.. 1994. MHC class 1-deficient mice. Adv. Immunol. 55:381.[Medline]
  13. Santos, M., M. W. Schilham, L. H. Rademakers, J. J. Marx, M. de Sousa, H. Clevers. 1996. Defective iron homeostasis in {beta}2-microglobulin knockout mice recapitulates hereditary hemochromatosis in man. J. Exp. Med. 184:1975.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Huh, G. S., L. M. Boulanger, H. Du, P. A. Riquelme, T. M. Brotz, C. J. Shatz. 2000. Functional requirement for class I MHC in CNS development and plasticity. Science 290:2155.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Israel, E. J., V. K. Patel, S. F. Taylor, A. Marshak-Rothstein, N. E. Simister. 1995. Requirement for a {beta}2-microglobulin-associated Fc receptor for acquisition of maternal IgG by fetal and neonatal mice. J. Immunol. 154:6246.[Abstract]
  16. Christianson, G. J., W. Brooks, S. Vekasi, E. A. Manolfi, J. Niles, S. L. Roopenian, J. B. Roths, R. Rothlein, D. C. Roopenian. 1997. {beta}2-microglobulin-deficient mice are protected from hypergammaglobulinemia and have defective antibody responses because of increased IgG catabolism. J. Immunol. 159:4781.[Abstract]
  17. Ghetie, V., J. G. Hubbard, J. K. Kim, M. F. Tsen, Y. Lee, E. S. Ward. 1996. Abnormally short serum half-lives of IgG in {beta}2-microglobulin-deficient mice. Eur. J. Immunol. 26:690.[Medline]
  18. Junghans, R. P., C. L. Anderson. 1996. The protection receptor for IgG catabolism is the {beta}2-microglobulin-containing neonatal intestinal transport receptor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:5512.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  19. Spriggs, M. K., B. H. Koller, T. Sato, P. J. Morrissey, W. C. Fanslow, O. Smithies, R. F. Voice, C. R. Maliszewski. 1992. {beta}2-microglobulin-, CD8+ T-cell-deficient mice survive inoculation with high doses of vaccinia virus and exhibit altered IgG responses. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6070.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  20. Lehmann-Grube, F., J. Lohler, O. Utermohlen, C. Gegin. 1993. Antiviral immune responses of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-infected mice lacking CD8+ T lymphocytes because of disruption of the {beta}2-microglobulin gene. J. Virol. 67:332.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  21. Noble, A., Z. S. Zhao, H. Cantor. 1998. Suppression of immune responses by CD8 cells. II. Qa-1 on activated B cells stimulates CD8 cell suppression of T helper 2 responses. J. Immunol. 160:566.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Christianson, G. J., R. L. Blankenberg, T. M. Duffy, D. Panka, A. M. Marshak-Rothstein, J. B. Roths, D. C. Roopenian. 1996. {beta}2 microglobulin dependence of lupus-like autoimmune syndrome of MRL-lpr mice. J. Immunol. 176:4933.
  23. Maldonado, M. A., R. A. Eisenberg, E. Roper, P. L. Cohen, B. L. Kotzin. 1995. Greatly reduced lymphoproliferation in lpr mice laking major histocompatibility complex class I. J. Exp. Med. 181:641.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  24. Ohtelki, T., M. Iwamoto, S. Izui, H. R. MacDonald. 1995. Reduced development of CD4-8-B220+ T cells but normal autoantibody production in mice lacking major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Eur. J. Immunol. 25:37.[Medline]
  25. Shenoy, M., R. Kaul, E. Goluszko, C. David, P. Christadoss. 1994. Effect of MHC class I and CD8 cell deficiency on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis pathogenesis. J. Immunol. 153:5330.[Abstract]
  26. Chan, O. T., V. Paliwal, J. M. McNiff, S. H. Park, A. Bendelac, M. J. Shlomchik. 2001. Deficiency in {beta}2-microglobulin, but not CD1, accelerates spontaneous lupus skin disease while inhibiting nephritis in MRL-Fas(lpr) mice: an example of disease regulation at the organ level. J. Immunol. 167:2985.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  27. Linsley, P. S., W. Brady, M. Urnes, L. S. Grosmaire, N. K. Damle, J. A. Ledbetter. 1991. CTLA-4 is a second receptor for the B cell activation antigen B7. J. Exp. Med. 174:561.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  28. Larsen, C. P., D. Z. Alexander, D. Hollenbaugh, E. T. Elwood, S. C. Ritchie, A. Aruffo, R. Hendrix, T. C. Pearson. 1996. CD40-gp39 interactions play a critical role during allograft rejection: suppression of allograft rejection by blockade of the CD40-gp39 pathway. Transplantation 61:4.[Medline]
  29. Bailey, D. W., B. Usama. 1960. A rapid method of grafting skin on tails of mice. Transpl. Bull. 7:424.[Medline]
  30. Appleby, P., D. Catty. 1983. Transmission of immunoglobulin to fetal and neonatal mice. J. Reprod. Immunol. 5:203.[Medline]
  31. Junghans, R. P.. 1997. IgG biosynthesis: no "immunoregulatory feedback.". Blood 90:3815.[Free Full Text]
  32. Israel, E. J., D. F. Wilsker, K. C. Hayes, D. Schoenfeld, N. E. Simister. 1996. Increased clearance of IgG in mice that lack {beta}2-microglobulin: possible protective role of FcRn. Immunology 89:573.[Medline]
  33. Ghiasi, H., D. C. Roopenian, S. Slanina, S. Cai, A. B. Nesburn, S. L. Wechsler. 1997. The importance of MHC-I and MHC-II responses in vaccine efficacy against lethal herpes simplex virus type 1 challenge. Immunology 91:430.[Medline]
  34. Mixter, P. F., J. Q. Russell, F. H. Durie, R. C. Budd. 1995. Decreased CD4-CD8- {alpha}{beta} TCR+ cells in lpr/lpr mice lacking {beta}2-microglobulin. J. Immunol. 154:2063.[Abstract]
  35. Liu, Z., D. C. Roopenian, X. Zhou, G. J. Christianson, L. A. Diaz, D. D. Sedmak, C. L. Anderson. 1997. {beta}2-microglobulin-deficient mice are resistant to bullous pemphigoid. J. Exp. Med. 186:777.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  36. Ghetie, V., E. S. Ward. 1997. FcRn: the MHC class I-related receptor that is more than an IgG transporter. Immunol. Today 18:592.[Medline]
  37. Ober, R. J., C. G. Radu, V. Ghetie, E. S. Ward. 2001. Differences in promiscuity for antibody-FcRn interactions across species: implications for therapeutic antibodies. Int. Immunol. 13:1551.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  38. Raghavan, M., P. J. Bjorkman. 1996. Fc receptors and their interactions with immunoglobulins. Annu. Rev. Cell. Dev. Biol. 12:181.[Medline]
  39. Chadbury, C., S. Mehanz, J. M. Robinson, W. L. Hayton D. K. Pearl, D. C. Roopenian, and C. L. Anderson. The MHC-related Fc receptor (FcRn) binds albumin and extends its life span. J. Exp. Med. In press.

Related articles in The JI:

IN THIS ISSUE

The JI 2003 170: 3449-3450. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.Home page
M. Sarav, Y. Wang, B. K. Hack, A. Chang, M. Jensen, L. Bao, and R. J. Quigg
Renal FcRn Reclaims Albumin but Facilitates Elimination of IgG
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., September 1, 2009; 20(9): 1941 - 1952.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
Y. A. Yeung, M. K. Leabman, J. S. Marvin, J. Qiu, C. W. Adams, S. Lien, M. A. Starovasnik, and H. B. Lowman
Engineering Human IgG1 Affinity to Human Neonatal Fc Receptor: Impact of Affinity Improvement on Pharmacokinetics in Primates
J. Immunol., June 15, 2009; 182(12): 7663 - 7671.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
S.-C. Lu, J. Xu, N. Chinookoswong, S. Liu, S. Steavenson, C. Gegg, D. Brankow, R. Lindberg, M. Veniant, and W. Gu
An Acyl-Ghrelin-Specific Neutralizing Antibody Inhibits the Acute Ghrelin-Mediated Orexigenic Effects in Mice
Mol. Pharmacol., April 1, 2009; 75(4): 901 - 907.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
J. Kim, S. Mohanty, L. P. Ganesan, K. Hua, D. Jarjoura, W. L. Hayton, J. M. Robinson, and C. L. Anderson
FcRn in the Yolk Sac Endoderm of Mouse Is Required for IgG Transport to Fetus
J. Immunol., March 1, 2009; 182(5): 2583 - 2589.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
H. P. Montoyo, C. Vaccaro, M. Hafner, R. J. Ober, W. Mueller, and E. S. Ward
Conditional deletion of the MHC class I-related receptor FcRn reveals the sites of IgG homeostasis in mice
PNAS, February 24, 2009; 106(8): 2788 - 2793.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
J. A. Bubier, T. J. Sproule, O. Foreman, R. Spolski, D. J. Shaffer, H. C. Morse III, W. J. Leonard, and D. C. Roopenian
A critical role for IL-21 receptor signaling in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus in BXSB-Yaa mice
PNAS, February 3, 2009; 106(5): 1518 - 1523.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Molecular Cancer TherapeuticsHome page
C. F. McDonagh, K. M. Kim, E. Turcott, L. L. Brown, L. Westendorf, T. Feist, D. Sussman, I. Stone, M. Anderson, J. Miyamoto, et al.
Engineered anti-CD70 antibody-drug conjugate with increased therapeutic index
Mol. Cancer Ther., September 1, 2008; 7(9): 2913 - 2923.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
T. Hofer, J. D. Thomas, T. R. Burke Jr., and C. Rader
An engineered selenocysteine defines a unique class of antibody derivatives
PNAS, August 26, 2008; 105(34): 12451 - 12456.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
L. Ye, X. Liu, S. N. Rout, Z. Li, Y. Yan, L. Lu, T. Kamala, N. K. Nanda, W. Song, S. K. Samal, et al.
The MHC Class II-Associated Invariant Chain Interacts with the Neonatal Fc{gamma} Receptor and Modulates Its Trafficking to Endosomal/Lysosomal Compartments
J. Immunol., August 15, 2008; 181(4): 2572 - 2585.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
X. Liu, L. Ye, Y. Bai, H. Mojidi, N. E. Simister, and X. Zhu
Activation of the JAK/STAT-1 Signaling Pathway by IFN-{gamma} Can Down-Regulate Functional Expression of the MHC Class I-Related Neonatal Fc Receptor for IgG
J. Immunol., July 1, 2008; 181(1): 449 - 463.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
J. H. Grubb, C. Vogler, Y. Tan, G. N. Shah, A. F. MacRae, and W. S. Sly
Infused Fc-tagged {beta}-glucuronidase crosses the placenta and produces clearance of storage in utero in mucopolysaccharidosis VII mice
PNAS, June 17, 2008; 105(24): 8375 - 8380.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Exp. Biol. Med.Home page
J. Kim, C. L. Bronson, M. A. Wani, T. M. Oberyszyn, S. Mohanty, C. Chaudhury, W. L. Hayton, J. M. Robinson, and C. L. Anderson
{beta}2-Microglobulin Deficient Mice Catabolize IgG More Rapidly Than FcRn-{alpha}-Chain Deficient Mice
Experimental Biology and Medicine, May 1, 2008; 233(5): 603 - 609.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
A. R. Mezo, K. A. McDonnell, C. A. T. Hehir, S. C. Low, V. J. Palombella, J. M. Stattel, G. D. Kamphaus, C. Fraley, Y. Zhang, J. A. Dumont, et al.
Reduction of IgG in nonhuman primates by a peptide antagonist of the neonatal Fc receptor FcRn
PNAS, February 19, 2008; 105(7): 2337 - 2342.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
S. Akilesh, T. B. Huber, H. Wu, G. Wang, B. Hartleben, J. B. Kopp, J. H. Miner, D. C. Roopenian, E. R. Unanue, and A. S. Shaw
From the Cover: Podocytes use FcRn to clear IgG from the glomerular basement membrane
PNAS, January 22, 2008; 105(3): 967 - 972.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
S. Akilesh, G. J. Christianson, D. C. Roopenian, and A. S. Shaw
Neonatal FcR Expression in Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Functions to Protect Serum IgG from Catabolism
J. Immunol., October 1, 2007; 179(7): 4580 - 4588.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
X. Liu, L. Ye, G. J. Christianson, J.-Q. Yang, D. C. Roopenian, and X. Zhu
NF-{kappa}B Signaling Regulates Functional Expression of the MHC Class I-Related Neonatal Fc Receptor for IgG via Intronic Binding Sequences
J. Immunol., September 1, 2007; 179(5): 2999 - 3011.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
J. C. Cooper, G. B. Dealtry, M. A. Ahmed, P. C. Arck, B. F. Klapp, S. M. Blois, and N. Fernandez
An Impaired Breeding Phenotype in Mice with a Genetic Deletion of Beta-2 Microglobulin and Diminished MHC Class I Expression: Role in Reproductive Fitness
Biol Reprod, August 1, 2007; 77(2): 274 - 279.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
L. Liu, A. M. Garcia, H. Santoro, Y. Zhang, K. McDonnell, J. Dumont, and A. Bitonti
Amelioration of Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in Rats by Neonatal FcR Blockade
J. Immunol., April 15, 2007; 178(8): 5390 - 5398.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JEMHome page
F. Nimmerjahn and J. V. Ravetch
The antiinflammatory activity of IgG: the intravenous IgG paradox
J. Exp. Med., January 22, 2007; 204(1): 11 - 15.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
C. Vaccaro, R. Bawdon, S. Wanjie, R. J. Ober, and E. S. Ward
Divergent activities of an engineered antibody in murine and human systems have implications for therapeutic antibodies
PNAS, December 5, 2006; 103(49): 18709 - 18714.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Int ImmunolHome page
S. B. Petkova, S. Akilesh, T. J. Sproule, G. J. Christianson, H. Al Khabbaz, A. C. Brown, L. G. Presta, Y. G. Meng, and D. C. Roopenian
Enhanced half-life of genetically engineered human IgG1 antibodies in a humanized FcRn mouse model: potential application in humorally mediated autoimmune disease
Int. Immunol., December 1, 2006; 18(12): 1759 - 1769.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Nutr.Home page
C. Chaudhury, J. Kim, S. Mehnaz, M. A. Wani, T. M. Oberyszyn, C. L. Bronson, S. Mohanty, W. L. Hayton, J. M. Robinson, and C. L. Anderson
Accelerated Transferrin Degradation in HFE-Deficient Mice Is Associated with Increased Transferrin Saturation
J. Nutr., December 1, 2006; 136(12): 2993 - 2998.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
G. Vidarsson, A. M. Stemerding, N. M. Stapleton, S. E. Spliethoff, H. Janssen, F. E. Rebers, M. de Haas, and J. G. van de Winkel
FcRn: an IgG receptor on phagocytes with a novel role in phagocytosis
Blood, November 15, 2006; 108(10): 3573 - 3579.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Pathol.Home page
E. Maidji, S. McDonagh, O. Genbacev, T. Tabata, and L. Pereira
Maternal Antibodies Enhance or Prevent Cytomegalovirus Infection in the Placenta by Neonatal Fc Receptor-Mediated Transcytosis
Am. J. Pathol., April 1, 2006; 168(4): 1210 - 1226.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Int ImmunolHome page
H. Crowley, J. Alroy, T. J. Sproule, D. Roopenian, and B. T. Huber
The MHC class I-related FcRn ameliorates murine Lyme arthritis
Int. Immunol., March 1, 2006; 18(3): 409 - 414.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Virol.Home page
K. M. Chung, G. E. Nybakken, B. S. Thompson, M. J. Engle, A. Marri, D. H. Fremont, and M. S. Diamond
Antibodies against West Nile Virus Nonstructural Protein NS1 Prevent Lethal Infection through Fc {gamma} Receptor-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms
J. Virol., February 1, 2006; 80(3): 1340 - 1351.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol.Home page
J. Kim, C. L. Bronson, W. L. Hayton, M. D. Radmacher, D. C. Roopenian, J. M. Robinson, and C. L. Anderson
Albumin turnover: FcRn-mediated recycling saves as much albumin from degradation as the liver produces
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, February 1, 2006; 290(2): G352 - G360.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Infect. Immun.Home page
L. Bry, M. Brigl, and M. B. Brenner
CD4+-T-Cell Effector Functions and Costimulatory Requirements Essential for Surviving Mucosal Infection with Citrobacter rodentium
Infect. Immun., January 1, 2006; 74(1): 673 - 681.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
P. R. Hinton, J. M. Xiong, M. G. Johlfs, M. T. Tang, S. Keller, and N. Tsurushita
An Engineered Human IgG1 Antibody with Longer Serum Half-Life
J. Immunol., January 1, 2006; 176(1): 346 - 356.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
N. Savelyeva, C. A. King, E. S. Vitetta, and F. K. Stevenson
Inhibition of a vaccine-induced anti-tumor B cell response by soluble protein antigen in the absence of continuing T cell help
PNAS, August 2, 2005; 102(31): 10987 - 10992.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
X. Zhu, J. Peng, D. Chen, X. Liu, L. Ye, H. Iijima, K. Kadavil, W. I. Lencer, and R. S. Blumberg
Calnexin and ERp57 Facilitate the Assembly of the Neonatal Fc Receptor for IgG with {beta}2-Microglobulin in the Endoplasmic Reticulum
J. Immunol., July 15, 2005; 175(2): 967 - 976.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Cell Sci.Home page
E. E. Newton, Z. Wu, and N. E. Simister
Characterization of basolateral-targeting signals in the neonatal Fc receptor
J. Cell Sci., June 1, 2005; 118(11): 2461 - 2469.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
aacredbookHome page
P. Carter and C. F. McDonagh
Designer Antibody-Based Therapeutics for Oncology
Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. Educ. Book, April 1, 2005; 2005(1): 147 - 154.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
N. L. B. Wernick, V. Haucke, and N. E. Simister
Recognition of the Tryptophan-based Endocytosis Signal in the Neonatal Fc Receptor by the {micro} Subunit of Adaptor Protein-2
J. Biol. Chem., February 25, 2005; 280(8): 7309 - 7316.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
V. Kenanova, T. Olafsen, D. M. Crow, G. Sundaresan, M. Subbarayan, N. H. Carter, D. N. Ikle, P. J. Yazaki, A. F. Chatziioannou, S. S. Gambhir, et al.
Tailoring the Pharmacokinetics and Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Properties of Anti-Carcinoembryonic Antigen Single-Chain Fv-Fc Antibody Fragments
Cancer Res., January 15, 2005; 65(2): 622 - 631.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Related articles in The JI
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Roopenian, D. C.
Right arrow Articles by Anderson, C. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Roopenian, D. C.
Right arrow Articles by Anderson, C. L.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS