Experimental study demonstrates asialoglycoprotein receptor expression mediates endocytosis in immature human dendritic cells, indicating a specialized role in antigen capture.
Key Points
Identify and characterize asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) isoforms expressed by human dendritic cells and evaluate their role in antigen uptake.
Cloned cDNAs encoding dendritic cell ASGPR (DC-ASGPR) isoforms and performed immunoprecipitation using an anti-DC-ASGPR monoclonal antibody.
Profiled DC-ASGPR expression across distinct leukocyte lineages, stem cell-derived subsets, and CD40-activated maturation states.
Assessed receptor internalization kinetics at 37°C and tracked intracellular trafficking to early endosomal compartments.
DC-ASGPR is expressed as a 40-kDa protein primarily on immature CD14-derived dendritic cells, interstitial dendritic cells, and granulocytes, but is absent on mature cells, T, B, NK cells, and Langerhans-type cells.
Receptor surface expression is lost following dendritic cell maturation induced by CD40 activation.
Antibodies targeting DC-ASGPR undergo rapid internalization at 37°C and localize to early endosomes, indicating functional endocytic recycling for antigen uptake.