Antigen-presenting cell membrane and endocytic machinery mediating vesicle uptake

The Antigen-presenting cell membrane and endocytic machinery mediating vesicle uptake refers to the collective set of surface receptors and intracellular pathways used by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells and macrophages, to internalize extracellular materials including vesicles, pathogens, and synthetic nanoparticles (Roche & Furuta, 2015, Nature Reviews Immunology). This machinery comprises various receptors—such as C-type lectin receptors (e.g., CD206, DEC-205), Fc receptors, and scavenger receptors—alongside specialized endocytic routes like clathrin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis (Oh & Park, 2014, International Journal of Nanomedicine). In modern pharmacology, this system is the primary functional target for lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA vaccines, which rely on these pathways to enter APCs and subsequently express antigens for T-cell priming (Pardi et al., 2018, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). By leveraging this machinery, therapeutic agents can effectively modulate the immune system to treat infectious diseases or cancer. However, the complexity of these pathways presents significant challenges, including the risk of lysosomal degradation of the therapeutic cargo and potential off-target effects in non-immune cells (Pardi et al., 2018). Safety concerns often involve systemic inflammatory responses or hypersensitivity to the delivery vehicles used to engage this machinery.

Other names

Antigen-presenting cell endocytic pathwayAPC vesicle uptake systemAPC endocytosis machineryAntigen-presenting cell endocytic machinery

Targeting and internalization of therapeutic cargo via endocytic pathways for immune modulation.