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Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor
Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) is a transmembrane protein that in humans is encoded by the PIGR gene. It is an Fc receptor which facilitates the transcytosis of the soluble polymeric isoforms of immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M (pIg) and immune complexes. pIgRs are mainly located on the epithelial lining of mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract. The composition of the receptor is complex, including 6 immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane region, and an intracellular domain. pIgR expression is under the strong regulation of cytokines, hormones, and pathogenic stimuli.
pIgR is produced among others by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and bronchial epithelial cells. pIgR belongs to the family of type I transmembrane proteins. The extracellular portion of the protein contains 6 domains: 5 evolutionary conserved immunoglobulin-like domains, and 1 non-homologous domain, which is involved in proteolytic cleavage of pIg-pIgR complex from the apical side of the IECs. The quite long intracellular domain of the receptor, along with the transmembrane region, is responsible for the transduction of highly conserved signals. During transcytosis, an essential part of pIgR, the secretory component, is attached to the ligand and later cleaved with the ligand to form fully functioning secreted IgA.
Per Brandtzaeg showed that secretory component acts as a plasma membrane receptor on epithelial cells for polymeric immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M. This was paradoxical, as secretory component is a soluble protein, whereas plasma membrane receptors are transmembrane proteins. Numerous models were proposed for how secretory component might work as a receptor, though none of these models resolved this paradox. Keith Mostov and colleagues found that secretory component was a proteolytic fragment of a transmembrane precursor, the pIgR, which led them to propose the currently accepted model
Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor is responsible for transcytosis of soluble dimeric IgA, pentameric IgM, and immune complexes from the basolateral to the apical mucosal epithelial cell surface. pIgR has a strong specificity to polymeric immunoglobulins and is not responsive to monomeric immunoglobulin. The ligand’s J-chain is responsible for the binding of pIgR to its ligand.
The process of transporting polymeric immunoglobulins from the basolateral to apical side, known as transcytosis, is composed of several distinct steps. Transcytosis is initiated by either the binding of dimeric IgA to the receptor or the phosphorylation of Ser-664 residue of the receptor. The internalization of both free and IgA-bound pIgR is mediated by clathrin coating. The internalized receptor is transported to basolateral early endosomes. The following step of transporting the pIgR across the cell (through tubulo-vesicular compartments to apical recycling endosome) is dependent on microtubules. When pIgR reaches the apical membrane, proteolytic cleavage generates either a free secretory component of SC-IgA complex , which is released to the apical lumen. Cleavage occurs at the junction of the transmembrane region of the receptor and domain 5.
pIgRs are capable of capturing IgA bound to an antigen (Immune complexes (ICs)) with identical affinity as IgA and transport them to apical side. ICs result from the capture of an antigen by an antibody. IgA ICs are formed within the mucous membranes in response to foreign invasion. The accumulation of ICs on the basolateral side of mucous layers can have detrimental effects. Transcytosis of IgA ICs from the formation sites represents an important mechanism of eliminating circulating antigens and minimizing their negative effects.
The expression of pIgR is critically regulated by the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. The transcriptional regulation by different cytokines proceeds through similar pathways, involving the NF-kB feedback loop. Interaction of IL-1 and TNF-α with their receptors ultimately lead to transcriptional activation of PIGR gene due to nuclear translocation of NF-kB. NF-kB interacts with intron 1 of the PIGR gene to start pIgR mRNA synthesis.
Besides NF-kB pathway, the transcriptional induction also proceeds in response to IFN-γ, upregulating the expression of pIgR.
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Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor AI simulator
(@Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor_simulator)
Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor
Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) is a transmembrane protein that in humans is encoded by the PIGR gene. It is an Fc receptor which facilitates the transcytosis of the soluble polymeric isoforms of immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M (pIg) and immune complexes. pIgRs are mainly located on the epithelial lining of mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract. The composition of the receptor is complex, including 6 immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane region, and an intracellular domain. pIgR expression is under the strong regulation of cytokines, hormones, and pathogenic stimuli.
pIgR is produced among others by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and bronchial epithelial cells. pIgR belongs to the family of type I transmembrane proteins. The extracellular portion of the protein contains 6 domains: 5 evolutionary conserved immunoglobulin-like domains, and 1 non-homologous domain, which is involved in proteolytic cleavage of pIg-pIgR complex from the apical side of the IECs. The quite long intracellular domain of the receptor, along with the transmembrane region, is responsible for the transduction of highly conserved signals. During transcytosis, an essential part of pIgR, the secretory component, is attached to the ligand and later cleaved with the ligand to form fully functioning secreted IgA.
Per Brandtzaeg showed that secretory component acts as a plasma membrane receptor on epithelial cells for polymeric immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M. This was paradoxical, as secretory component is a soluble protein, whereas plasma membrane receptors are transmembrane proteins. Numerous models were proposed for how secretory component might work as a receptor, though none of these models resolved this paradox. Keith Mostov and colleagues found that secretory component was a proteolytic fragment of a transmembrane precursor, the pIgR, which led them to propose the currently accepted model
Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor is responsible for transcytosis of soluble dimeric IgA, pentameric IgM, and immune complexes from the basolateral to the apical mucosal epithelial cell surface. pIgR has a strong specificity to polymeric immunoglobulins and is not responsive to monomeric immunoglobulin. The ligand’s J-chain is responsible for the binding of pIgR to its ligand.
The process of transporting polymeric immunoglobulins from the basolateral to apical side, known as transcytosis, is composed of several distinct steps. Transcytosis is initiated by either the binding of dimeric IgA to the receptor or the phosphorylation of Ser-664 residue of the receptor. The internalization of both free and IgA-bound pIgR is mediated by clathrin coating. The internalized receptor is transported to basolateral early endosomes. The following step of transporting the pIgR across the cell (through tubulo-vesicular compartments to apical recycling endosome) is dependent on microtubules. When pIgR reaches the apical membrane, proteolytic cleavage generates either a free secretory component of SC-IgA complex , which is released to the apical lumen. Cleavage occurs at the junction of the transmembrane region of the receptor and domain 5.
pIgRs are capable of capturing IgA bound to an antigen (Immune complexes (ICs)) with identical affinity as IgA and transport them to apical side. ICs result from the capture of an antigen by an antibody. IgA ICs are formed within the mucous membranes in response to foreign invasion. The accumulation of ICs on the basolateral side of mucous layers can have detrimental effects. Transcytosis of IgA ICs from the formation sites represents an important mechanism of eliminating circulating antigens and minimizing their negative effects.
The expression of pIgR is critically regulated by the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. The transcriptional regulation by different cytokines proceeds through similar pathways, involving the NF-kB feedback loop. Interaction of IL-1 and TNF-α with their receptors ultimately lead to transcriptional activation of PIGR gene due to nuclear translocation of NF-kB. NF-kB interacts with intron 1 of the PIGR gene to start pIgR mRNA synthesis.
Besides NF-kB pathway, the transcriptional induction also proceeds in response to IFN-γ, upregulating the expression of pIgR.