Cell surface HLA-DR-invariant chain complexes are targeted to endosomes by rapid internalization.

Class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) bind peptides derived from protein antigens delivered into endocytic compartments and present these peptides to CD4+ T cells. The precursors to functional MHC class II molecules loaded with peptides are complexes of the invariant chain associated with class II alpha beta heterodimers. Targeting of newly synthesized MHC class II molecules to endosomes is mediated by the invariant chain, but the intracellular transport route is not known. This study demonstrates that in a human B-cell line a large population of MHC class II-invariant chain complexes reaches endosomes by rapid internalization from the cell surface. Quantitation of cell surface MHC class II-invariant chain complexes and of their surface half-life revealed that 3000 complexes internalized per minute into endosomes. This highly efficient endocytosis was mediated by the cytoplasmic tail of the invariant chain. After internalization, the invariant chain dissociated from the MHC class II-invariant chain complexes. This pathway may represent an important mechanism for loading class II molecules with immunogenic peptides from several endocytic compartments.