Variable antigen uptake due to different expression of the macrophage mannose receptor by dendritic cells in various inbred mouse strains

P>Antigen uptake by dendritic cells is essential for the induction of antigen-specific T-cell responses. Here, we investigate the ability of dendritic cells from different mouse strains to endocytose antigens. The uptake of different fluorescently labelled soluble antigens by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells from BALB/c, C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN mice was analysed by flow cytometry. Using transferrin as a specific marker for clathrin-mediated endocytosis, we observed no significant differences of transferrin uptake by dendritic cells from BALB/c, C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN mice. Similar results were obtained by analysing macropinocytosis with lucifer yellow. In contrast, analysing the uptake of ovalbumin, which is predominantly mediated by clathrin-mediated endocytosis via the macrophage mannose receptor, we found that dendritic cells from C3H/HeN mice take up three- to fivefold more ovalbumin than dendritic cells from BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice. Blocking the uptake of ovalbumin via the macrophage mannose receptor by using mannan led to a comparable uptake of ovalbumin by dendritic cells from all three mouse strains. Consistently, dendritic cells from C3H/HeN mice displayed significantly increased expression of the macrophage mannose receptor compared to dendritic cells from BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice. In conclusion, receptors involved in antigen uptake such as the macrophage mannose receptor may be differentially expressed and may explain variations of T-cell responses after vaccination in different individuals.