Functional microtubules are required for antigen processing by macrophages and dendritic cells.

Antigen-presenting cells readily phagocytose antigens and channel them through various membrane-bound organelles within the cell. In previous studies, we demonstrated that macrophages concentrated and localized particulate antigens to the trans-Golgi prior to displaying the MHC-class I-antigenic peptides on the cell surface. In this study, we evaluated the importance of cytoskeletal elements in the intracellular trafficking of soluble and liposome-encapsulated ovalbumin in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and human dendritic cells. F-actin, as identified by staining with fluorescein phalloidin, was observed at the point of contact between soluble or liposomal antigen and the cell membrane, suggesting that a rearrangement of the cytoskeleton occurs to facilitate the uptake of the antigens. Cells were incubated with colchicine, a microtubule depolymerizing agent, or paclitaxel, a microtubule polymerizing agent, before the addition of Texas Red-labeled ovalbumin or liposome-encapsulated Texas Red-labeled ovalbumin. Colchicine disrupted the trans-Golgi, whereas the trans-Golgi complexes were intact in paclitaxel treated cells. In either paclitaxel or colchicine-treated macrophages, internalized liposomal ovalbumin was not concentrated in the area of the trans-Golgi as determined by staining with fluorescent ceramide. In contrast, soluble ovalbumin was concentrated in the region of the trans-Golgi in 15% of the dendritic cells treated with paclitaxel, whereas 6% of the dendritic cells were able to concentrate liposomal antigen. In colchicine-treated dendritic cells, both soluble and liposomal antigens were internalized but did not localize to the area of the trans-Golgi. These data suggest that trafficking of soluble and liposome-encapsulated ovalbumin requires a functional microtubule-dependent translocation system.