Reproduction of Langerin/CD207 traffic and Birbeck granule formation in a human cell line model.

Birbeck granules (BG) are organelles specific to Langerhans cells (LCs), which form where the C-type lectin Langerin accumulates. Their function remains obscure due to morphologic and dynamic alterations induced by maturation of isolated LC. In this study, we attempted to reconstitute Langerin traffic and BG formation in the endosomal pathway of a human melanoma cell line. In the selected Langerin-transfected cell line, M10-22E, Langerin is distributed between the early recycling endosomal compartment and the plasma membrane, as in LC. Whereas mainly concentrated in membranes related to the Rab11(+) endosomal recycling compartment at the steady state, Langerin also recycles in M10-22E cells and drives BG biogenesis in the endosomal recycling compartment. Interruption of endocytosis or recycling induces redistribution of intracellular Langerin with an associated alteration in BG location and morphology. We have, therefore, generated a stable, Langerin-transfected cell line in which Langerin traffic and distribution and BG morphology replicate that seen in freshly isolated LC. This practical model can now be used to further delineate the nature and function of BG.