F(c)gammaRI-targeted fusion proteins result in efficient presentation by human monocytes of antigenic and antagonist T cell epitopes.

A major challenge for using native or modified T cell epitopes to induce or suppress immunity relates to poor localization of peptides to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in vivo. In this study, we demonstrate enhanced presentation of antigenic and antagonistic peptides by targeting them to the type I Fc receptor for IgG (F(c)gammaRI, CD64) on human monocytes. A Th epitope of tetanus toxoid, TT830, and the antagonistic peptide for TT830, TT833S, were genetically grafted into the constant region of the heavy chain of the humanized anti-CD64 mAb 22 and expressed as monovalent fusion proteins, Fab22-TT830 and Fab22-TT833S. These CD64-targeted peptides were up to 1,000- and 100-fold more efficient than the parent peptides for T cell stimulation and antagonism, respectively, suggesting that such fusion proteins could effectively increase the delivery of peptides to APCs in vivo. Moreover, the F(c)gammaRI-targeted antagonistic peptide inhibited proliferation of TT830-specific T cells even when APCs were first pulsed with native peptide, a situation comparable with that which would be encountered in vivo when attempting to ameliorate an autoimmune response. These data suggest that targeted presentation of antagonistic peptides could lead to promising Ag-specific therapies for T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.