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Localization of the human neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) in human nasal epithelium

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Abstract

The airway epithelium is a central player in the defense against pathogens including efficient mucociliary clearance and secretion of immunoglobulins, mainly polymeric IgA, but also IgG. Pulmonary administration of therapeutic antibodies on one hand, and intranasal immunization on the other, are powerful tools to treat airway infections. In either case, the airway epithelium is the primary site of antibody transfer. In various epithelia, bi-polar transcytosis of IgG and IgG immune complexes is mediated by the human neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, but FcRn expression in the nasal epithelium had not been demonstrated, so far. We prepared affinity-purified antibodies against FcRn α-chain and confirmed their specificity by Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. These antibodies were used to study the localization of FcRn α-chain in fixed nasal tissue. We here demonstrate for the first time that ciliated epithelial cells, basal cells, gland cells, and endothelial cells in the underlying connective tissue express the receptor. A predominant basolateral steady state distribution of the receptor was observed in ciliated epithelial as well as in gland cells. Co-localization of FcRn α-chain with IgG or with early sorting endosomes (EEA1-positive) but not with late endosomes/lysosomes (LAMP-2-positive) in ciliated cells was observed. This is indicative for the presence of the receptor in the recycling/transcytotic pathway but not in compartments involved in lysosomal degradation supporting the role of FcRn in IgG transcytosis in the nasal epithelium.

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Abbreviations

FcRn:

Human neonatal Fc receptor

ß2m:

beta2-Microglobulin

DAPI:

4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, dihydrochloride

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

EEA1:

Early endosomal antigen-1

LAMP-2:

Lysosomal associated membrane protein-2.

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Acknowledgments

The skillful technical assistance of Katharina Gelles in tissue embedding and staining is greatly acknowledged. Supported by Jubiläumsfondsprojekt 8010 to I.E and Austrian Science Fund W1248-B13 to V.N.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Sara Heidl, Isabella Ellinger & Renate Fuchs

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Verena Niederberger & Eva E. Waltl

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  1. Sara Heidl
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  2. Isabella Ellinger
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  3. Verena Niederberger
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  4. Eva E. Waltl
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  5. Renate Fuchs
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Correspondence to Renate Fuchs.

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Heidl, S., Ellinger, I., Niederberger, V. et al. Localization of the human neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) in human nasal epithelium. Protoplasma 253, 1557–1564 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-015-0918-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-015-0918-y

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