CD1 expression is not affected by human peptide transporter deficiency.

Conventional major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are highly polymorphic and present peptides to cytotoxic T cells. These peptides derive from the proteolytic degradation of endogenous proteins in the cytosol and are translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum by a peptide transporter consisting of two transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) molecules. Absence of this transporter leads to the synthesis of unstable peptide free class I molecules that are weakly expressed on the cell surface. Mouse nonconventional class I molecules (class Ib) may also present TAP-dependent peptides. In humans, CD1 antigens are nonconventional class I molecules. Recently, we characterized a human HLA class I deficiency resulting from a homozygous TAP deficiency. We show here that CD1a and -c are normally expressed on epidermal Langerhans cells of the TAP-deficient patients, as are CD1a, -b, and -c on dendritic cells differentiated in vitro from monocytes. Moreover, the CD1a antigens present on the surface of the dendritic cells are functional, since they internalize by receptor-mediated endocytosis gold-labeled F(ab')2 fragments of an anti-CD1a mAb. This suggests either that CD1 molecules are empty molecules, that they are more stable than empty conventional class I proteins, or that CD1 molecules present TAP-independent peptides.