Pa. Gonnella et Dw. Wilmore, COLOCALIZATION OF CLASS-II ANTIGEN AND EXOGENOUS ANTIGEN IN THE RAT ENTEROCYTE, Journal of Cell Science, 106, 1993, pp. 937-940
The role of class II major histocompatibility antigens in classical an
tigen-presenting cells has been described (Unanue (1984) Annu. Rev. Im
munoL 2, 395-428; Watts and McConnell (1987) Rev. ImmunoL 5, 461-475).
Whether enterocytes, which also express class II antigens, can act as
antigen-presenting cells in vivo is not known. One pre-requisite for
a role for enterocytes in antigen presentation is an interaction betwe
en exogenous antigen and class H antigens. Our results demonstrate tha
t class II antigen and exogenous antigen absorbed from the gastrointes
tinal tract are co-localized within endocytic compartments and along t
he basolateral membranes of enterocytes.