Dendritic cells (DCs) express Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) for the binding immune complexes (ICs) consisting of IgG and antigens (Ags). IC⁻FcγR interactions have been demonstrated to enhance activation and antigen-presenting functions of DCs. Utilizing Friend virus (FV), an oncogenic mouse retrovirus, we investigated the effect of IgG-opsonization of retroviral particles on the infection of DCs and the subsequent presentation of viral antigens by DCs to virus-specific CD8 T cells. We found that opsonization by virus-specific non-neutralizing IgG abrogated DC infection and as a consequence significantly reduced the capacity of DCs to activate virus-specific CD8 T cells. Effects of IgG-opsonization were mediated by the high-affinity FcγR type I, CD64, expressed on DCs. Our results suggest that different opsonization patterns on the retroviral surface modulate infection and antigen-presenting functions of DCs, whereby, in contrast to complement, IgG reduces the capacity of DCs to activate cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses.
Keywords: CD8 T cells; Fcγ receptors; IgG-opsonization; dendritic cells; friend virus.