CD83 is preformed inside monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells, but it is only stably expressed on activated dendritic cells.

Human DCs (dendritic cells) express surface CD83 upon activation. Comparing the surface induction of CD83 with the upregulation of CD40, CD80 and CD86 during LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced DC maturation showed that CD83 induction occurred more rapidly. Despite the lack of CD83 on immature DCs, it was detected in these cells by Western blotting and flow cytometry. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed CD83 inside immature DCs in perinuclear regions. CD83 was absent on monocytes and macrophages, but it was detected inside these cells and found to be rapidly surface-expressed upon LPS-induced activation. Whereas CD83 expression on activated DCs was sustainable, its expression on monocytes and macrophages was transient. Optimal interleukin-4 co-stimulation during DC generation from monocytes was found to be essential for stable CD83 surface expression. CD83 was detected as 37 and 50 kDa forms in transfected 293T cells. Macrophages and immature DCs expressed the 37 kDa form, whereas mature DCs predominantly expressed the 50 kDa form. In monocytes, CD83 was detected as a 22 kDa detergent-insoluble form. The rapid CD83 surface induction on DCs and macrophages was blocked by brefeldin A, but not by cycloheximide, showing that fresh CD83 synthesis was not essential. Tunicamycin inhibited the expression of the 50 and 37 kDa CD83 forms, and also blocked CD83 surface expression on DCs and macrophages. PNGase F (peptide N-glycosidase F) digestion reduced the 37 and 50 kDa CD83 forms to 28 kDa. In summary, monocytes, macrophages and immature DCs contain preformed intracellular CD83, and its rapid surface expression upon activation is post-translationally regulated in a process involving glycosylation.