Fc gamma receptor IIb participates in maternal IgG trafficking of human placental endothelial cells

Int J Mol Med. 2015 May;35(5):1273-89. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2015.2141. Epub 2015 Mar 17.

Abstract

The human placental transfer of maternal IgG is crucial for fetal and newborn immunity. Low-affinity immunoglobulin gamma Fc region receptor IIb2 (FCGR2B2 or FcγRIIb2) is exclusively expressed in an IgG-containing, vesicle-like organelle (the FCGR2B2 compartment) in human placental endothelial cells; thus, we hypothesized that the FCGR2B2 compartment functions as an IgG transporter. In this study, to examine this hypothesis, we performed in vitro bio-imaging analysis of IgG trafficking by FCGR2B2 compartments using human umbilical vein endothelial cells transfected with a plasmid vector containing enhanced GFP-tagged FCGR2B2 (pFCGR2B2-EGFP). FCGR2B2-EGFP signals were detected as intracellular vesicular structures similar to FCGR2B2 compartments in vivo. The internalization and transcytosis of IgG was significantly higher in the pFCGR2B2-EGFP-transfected cells than in the mock-transfected cells, and the majority of the internalized IgG was co-localized with the FCGR2B2-EGFP signals. Furthermore, we isolated FCGR2B2 compartments from the human placenta and found that the Rab family of proteins [RAS-related protein Rab family (RABs)] were associated with FCGR2B2 compartments. Among the RABs, RAB3D was expressed predominantly in placental endothelial cells. The downregulation of RAB3D by small interfering RNA (siRNA) resulted in a marked reduction in the FCGR2B2-EGFP signals at the cell periphery. Taken together, these findings suggest that FCGR2B2 compartments participate in the transcytosis of maternal IgG across the human placental endothelium and that RAB3D plays a role in regulating the intracellular dynamics of FCGR2B2 compartments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism*
  • Placenta / cytology*
  • Placenta / immunology
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors, IgG / genetics
  • Receptors, IgG / metabolism*
  • Transcytosis
  • Transfection
  • rab3 GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab3 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Fc gamma receptor IIB
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, IgG
  • rab3 GTP-Binding Proteins