The Contribution of Non-Professional Antigen-Presenting Cells to Immunity and Tolerance in the Liver

Abstract

The liver represents a unique organ biased toward a tolerogenic milieu. Due to its anatomical location, it is constantly exposed to microbial and food-derived antigens from the gut and thus equipped with a complex cellular network that ensures dampening T-cell responses. Within this cellular network, parenchymal cells (hepatocytes), non-parenchymal cells (liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells), and immune cells contribute directly or indirectly to this process. Despite this refractory bias, the liver is capable of mounting efficient T-cell responses. How the various antigen-presenting cell (APC) populations contribute to this process and how they handle danger signals determine the outcome of the generated immune responses. Importantly, liver mounted responses convey consequences not only for the local but also to systemic immunity. Here, we discuss various aspects of antigen presentation and its consequences by the non-professional APCs in the liver microenvironment.

Introduction

The liver is the metabolic center of the body that is critical for maintaining homeostasis. Additionally, it perpetuates a tolerogenic environment, is involved in peripheral tolerance, e.g., against food-derived antigens, and carries various immunological functions affecting not only the local but also the systemic immunity (1–3). To fulfill such diverse roles, the liver is provided with blood by the hepatic artery as well as by the portal vein (4). The portal vein not only carries nutrient rich blood from the gut but it also contains molecules/antigens derived from the digested food and the gut microbiome (5). In such exposed microenvironment, it is critical how the liver handles antigens and danger signals and how it allows the maintenance of the tolerogenic milieu while staying alert and ensuring the generation of liver-protecting T-cell responses.

The liver consists of parenchymal cells (such as hepatocytes and cholangiocytes), liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and a complex immune cell network built by myeloid and lymphoid cell populations (Figure 1). Sinusoids are lined by LSECs and provide docking sites for immune cells (6). HSCs in the space of Dissé can regulate the blood flow (7) and represent the main reservoir of vitamin A (8, 9). Hepatocytes carry out complex metabolic functions and secrete the bile on their basolateral surface into the bile canaliculi (10). Nutrients and molecules from the blood can reach hepatocytes via the fenestrated layer of LSECs containing oval pores approximately 50–150 nm in diameter (11, 12). Additionally, LSECs are able to trancytose blood-derived materials directly to hepatocytes (12, 13). To assure that hepatocytes can perform their metabolic function, the liver receives nearly 25% of the cardiac output (4). Besides its large blood flow, the liver produces between 25 and 50% of the total lymph arriving in the thoracic duct (14, 15). Lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) lining the lymphatics can be mainly found in the portal area (15) and provide important transport route for immune cells such as dendritic cells (DCs) and memory T-cells (16) (Figure 1D).

Figure 1.

Non-professional APCs in the liver microenvironment. (A) Presentation of exogenous antigen to CD8⁺ T-cells by hepatocytes leads to T-cell deletion. Via CD1d, hepatocytes can activate iNKT cells. (B) HSCs inhibit DC-mediated activation of CD8⁺ T-cells via CD54 and promote DC-mediated differentiation of CD4⁺ T-cells to T_regs using all-trans retinoid acid. HSCs induce IDO expression in DCs upon direct contact. Additionally, via CD1d HSCs can induce IFNγ secretion in iNKT cells and promote their proliferation by providing IL-15. (C) LSECs promote the differentiation of CD4⁺ T_regs or CD8⁺ memory T-cells, respectively. CD8⁺ memory T-cells migrate to the lymph nodes where they can be reactivated by DCs. LSECs can inhibit DC-mediated antigen presentation via ICAM1 and inhibit T-cell activation via LSECtin. LSECs receive MHC-I antigen complexes from HSCs via transcytosis. (D) In the portal triad, cholangiocytes can activate MAIT cells via MR1 and iNKT cells via CD1d. Additionally, LECs and mast cells could represent a potential cell population with MHC-I and MHC-II antigen-presenting ability. LSECs, liver sinusoidal cells; HSC, hepatic stellate cell; ATRA, all-trans retinoid acid; LEC, lymphatic endothelial cell; MAIT, mucosal-associated invariant T-cell; DC, dendritic cell; IDO, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase; IL, interleukin; IFN, interferon; iNKT, invariant natural killer cell; T_regs, regulatory T-cells; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; MR1, MHC class I-like-related molecule; APCs, antigen-presenting cells; LSECs, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Most antigens in the liver are taken up and processed by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as DCs, Kupffer cells (KCs), or monocyte-derived myeloid cells (17). These cells are important milestones in generating liver-protective immunity as well as tolerance and have been recently discussed elsewhere (17, 18). In this review, we will summarize the antigen presentation and its consequences by non-professional APCs in the liver.

Presentation of Antigens on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Molecules

Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells

Due to the direct contact with blood and its carried substances, it is not surprising that LSECs possess very efficient endocytic capacity that is superior to any professional APCs within the body (19, 20). To fulfill their engulfing potential, LSECs express various scavenger receptors (e.g., Stabilin 1, 2, and B1), lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1, and a range of C-type lectin receptors (21–23). LSECs efficiently endocytose soluble molecules or particles under 200 nm, whereas KCs attached to LSECs within the sinusoids cover particles and debris exceeding 200 nm (24). Together, they create a well-controlled functional dichotomy for constantly probing the liver environment.

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells constitutively carry low level of MHC-II and are able to upregulate its expression upon exposure to inflammatory cytokines (25, 26). Naïve CD4⁺ T-cells primed by LSECs under steady state differentiate into regulatory T-cells (T_regs) that lack the transcription factor Forkhead-Box-Protein P3 (FoxP3), which is normally expressed by T_regs generated by professional APCs (27). These LSEC-induced CD25^lowFoxP3⁻ T-cells are very immune suppressive (27). This aspect of LSEC-mediated antigen presentation could provide therapeutic benefits. Nanoparticles loaded with autoantigens are taken up by LSECs and lead to MHC-II presentation and to the consequent induction of regulatory CD4⁺ T-cells (28). Importantly, LSEC-targeted nanoparticles were able to reverse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in vivo (28).

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells are not only able to present exogenous antigen on MHC-II but also on MHC-I and thus capable of cross-presentation (Figure 1C) (29). Surprisingly, LSECs can cross-present soluble antigens even more efficiently than DCs (20, 30). This antigen presentation, however, is only limited to a short time period due to the efficient transcytotic transport (30). Besides soluble molecules, LSECs cross-present antigens from virus-infected hepatocytes (31), as well as cancer-associated antigens from apoptotic tumor cells (32). After encountering CD8⁺ T-cells, LSECs upregulate the co-inhibitory molecule B7-H1 (10-fold), therefore, shifting the balance from activation to tolerance induction in CD8⁺ T-cells (33). CD8⁺ T-cells primed by LSECs exhibit a phenotype (CD25^lowCD62L^high) that is different from CD8⁺ T-cells activated by DCs (CD25^highCD62L^low) (33) and demonstrate a rapid yet transient induction of effector functions (33). Trans-signaling of IL-6 between LSECs and CD8⁺ T-cells during priming is responsible for the fast (only 18 h) activation and the expression of granzyme B (GzmB) (34). This IL-6 trans-signaling is necessary to make CD8⁺ T-cells susceptible toward IL-2 (35). Despite the effector capacity, LSEC-primed CD8⁺ T-cells remain refractory and at later time point are non-responsive to restimulation via the T-cell receptor (TCR) (33). Moreover, these T-cells show memory-like phenotype and are capable of migrating to lymphoid organs (e.g., lymph nodes) where they can support anti-infectious immunity upon simultaneous restimulation through the TCR and costimulatory molecules (36). This is highly relevant since the LSEC-primed quiescent CD8⁺ T-cells are not lost from the immunological T-cell repertoire and could be utilized upon infectious danger (36).

However, if antigen concentration is high via strengthening the MHC-TCR interaction, LSECs could mount efficient effector CD8⁺ T-cell activation as well (37). In this case, the co-inhibitory signal of PD1-PD-L1 axis is overcome by IL-2 released from activated CD8⁺ T-cells that lead directly to the differentiation of cytotoxic T-cells following antigen cross-presentation (37). Such a scenario could be a protective instrument for the liver for example in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection where viral antigen expression is sufficiently high (38). Cross-presentation capacity of LSECs and consequent anti-viral cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte could be further enhanced through a mechanism differing from cross-dressing, where HSCs transfer MHC-I molecules to the LSEC-presentation machinery (39).

Besides direct antigen presentation, LSECs also affect bystander T-cell activation in the liver. Via LSECtin they can inhibit T-cell activation, proliferation, and effector function and via ICAM-1 hinder DC-mediated antigen presentation further supporting the maintenance of the tolerogenic milieu in the liver (40, 41). It is important to note that LSECs are not a solely tolerance-promoting machinery. Due to toll-like receptors and damage-associated molecular patterns, LSECs can sense danger signals. Although under steady state they are refractory to low dose of LPS, they instantaneously respond to LPS concentration change and alert the protecting acute phase response of the liver (42). Thus, they not only represent a key APC population but also central sentinels within the liver microenvironment.

Hepatocytes

Despite the fact that hepatocytes are not in direct contact with the sinusoidal blood flow (Figure 1A), lymphocytes scan the surface of hepatocytes via their protruding filopodia through the openings of the fenestrated endothelium (43, 44). While this is part of immune homeostasis it also can give an opportunity for hepatocytes to present antigen to T-cells. Indeed, hepatocytes are capable of priming naïve CD8⁺ T-cells directly and via cross-presentation (20, 45) but fail to provide the activated CD8⁺ T-cells with the necessary survival factor and therefore cause CD8⁺ T-cell deletion (45, 46). A recent study showed that the pathway of antigen processing and loading of MHC-I complex depends on a specific chaperone in the endoplasmatic reticulum–Golgi intermediate compartment called collectrin (47). This protein is not expressed in KCs or DCs and indicates a distinct mechanism of antigen processing for cross-presentation in hepatocytes (47).

Steady-state tolerogenic priming, however, could be contradictory in the case of hepatocyte-trophic viral invasion. In viral infection, virus-positive hepatocytes are eliminated by activated circulating CD8⁺ T-cells either directly recognizing antigen on hepatocytes or indirectly via LSEC-mediated cross-presentation of infected hepatocytes and consequent tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release (31). Efficient T-cell immunity and the clearance of virus-infected hepatocytes are inversely correlated with the number of infected cells (48). Accordingly, higher the number of infected hepatocytes, less efficient is the response due to CD8⁺ T-cell exhaustion (48, 49). Thus, efficient viral clearance most likely depends on a division of labor by multiple non-immune (hepatocytes and LSECs) and immune cells (DCs) in the liver microenvironment.

Hepatocytes do not express MHC-II molecules under steady-state condition (50); however, they could acquire during inflammation (50). MHC-II overexpressing hepatocytes were also capable of activating CD4⁺ T-cells in vitro (50). Accordingly, hepatocyte-specific expression of neural autoantigen led to the generation of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ T_regs, which protected against autoimmune encephalomyelitis (51). While the above-mentioned study assumed that antigen targeting to hepatocytes would equal to hepatocyte-mediated tolerance induction, the exact cell population that was responsible for the protective T_reg induction was not identified (51). Thus, cross-presentation of hepatocyte-derived material by an alternative liver cell population could not be excluded in this phenomenon. Nevertheless, this study raised an important point that hepatocyte targeting could be an alternative approach for autoimmune disease therapy.

In accordance with this, transgenic animals expressing ovalbumin in hepatocytes could mount OT-II cell activation and proliferation under steady state only in spleen and in draining hepatic lymph node and not within the liver (52). Moreover, this presentation depended on bone marrow-derived APCs (53) instead of hepatic immune or parenchymal cells (53). Thus, future studies are required to clarify hepatocyte-mediated CD4⁺ T-cell activation and its contribution to local and systemic immune responses.

Hepatic Stellate Cells

The antigen-presenting capacity of HSCs is controversial. Although they express costimulatory molecules such as CD40, CD80 and some studies found that interferon (IFN)γ regulated MHC-II expression in HSCs (54–57), their antigen uptake capacity is rather low (20). This questions whether they would be efficiently able to function as APCs in situ. Nevertheless, murine HSCs demonstrated the ability to process and present exogenous soluble antigens and activate both naïve CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells in vitro and could generate efficient T-cell response upon adoptive transfer in vivo (Figure 1B) (55). In contrast to this, other studies show that HSCs are less effective in generating T-cell responses. They induce T-cell apoptosis through B7-H1 (58–60) and B7-H4 signaling (59). Importantly, these studies addressed T-cell responses generated by peptide-pulsed HSCs and thus eliminated the uptake and presentation process of the antigen. While the ability of antigen presentation of HSCs is in debate, considerable amount of studies confirmed their potent immunoregulatory capability. HSCs induce the generation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)⁺ DCs in a contact dependent-manner and trigger myeloid-derived suppressor cell differentiation upon exposure to monocytes (61, 62). Additionally, in the presence of DCs, HSCs direct naïve CD4⁺ T-cell activation toward T_reg differentiation (Figure 1B) (63), a process that is likely mediated by all-trans retinoid acid, a retinol metabolite (63). Moreover, HSCs display a veto function, because they inhibit the priming of CD8⁺ T-cells induced by DCs through a CD54-dependent mechanism (64). Thus, HSCs represent a key component in the tolerogenic liver milieu.

Cholangiocytes

Cholangiocytes line the bile ducts and are exposed constantly to the bile content containing a wide variety of molecules. The ability of these cells to present antigen has been investigated in multiple studies. In vivo targeting of model antigen (ovalbumin) to cholangiocytes resulted in CD8⁺ T-cell activation in the liver and in the draining lymph node, but failed to induce CD4⁺ T-cell activation (52). This study has not identified the exact APC type in their transgenic system and thus antigen presentation and T-cell stimulatory capacity of cholangiocytes in the mouse liver remains elusive. Importantly, human cholangiocytes do not express costimulatory molecules (65) and are unable to induce CD4⁺ T-cell responses in vitro (66). Interestingly, cholangiocytes express human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-II molecules in human primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) (67), but the role in T-cell priming under pathogenic condition has not been investigated.

While MHC-I and MHC-II presentations of these cells are rather controversial, cholangiocytes can use an MHC-I-related molecule, MHC class I-like-related molecule (MR1) for inducing lymphocyte activation, which was shown in human liver (Figure 1D) (68). MR1 has the antigen-binding cleft for vitamin B metabolites derived from pathogenic/commensal bacteria (69) and is recognized by mucosal-associated invariant T-cells (MAITs) (70). In healthy and diseased liver, MAITs are abundant and mainly located around bile ducts and biliary epithelial cells (71). Activated MAIT cells are pro-inflammatory and secrete cytokines such as IFNγ, TNFα, IL-17, and GzmB (68). This mechanism is thought to protect the biliary tract from infiltrating commensal, as well as from pathogenic bacteria.

Other Non-Professional APCs to Consider: LECs, Mast Cells, and Neutrophils

Lymphatic endothelial cells have a high endocytic capacity and within lymphoid organs are able to present exogenous antigen to T-cells on both MHC-I and MHC-II molecules (16, 72, 73). Additionally, they represent a stromal cell population expressing peripheral tissue restricted antigens and mediate the deletion of autoreactive CD8⁺ T-cells (16, 74, 75). Moreover, LECs are potent immunoregulators and can inhibit DC-mediated antigen presentation and bystander T-cell proliferation via direct contact and nitric oxide production (72, 76). Although higher abundance of LECs is associated with multiple liver disorders, their antigen presentation capacity to influence T-cell responses has not been investigated (Figure 1D). These aspects could be interesting to address in the future in the view of the tolerogenic liver environment.

Mast cells are primarily located around the portal triad and could be identified within lymphatic vessels (14, 77). Freshly isolated human mast cells do not express antigen-presenting molecules under steady state, but in the presence of IFNγ they upregulate HLA class II and costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD40) (78). Consequently, they are able to activate CD4⁺ T-cells in vitro (78). The uptake of antigen is independent of IFNγ, and the antigen processing is associated with their secretory granules (78). Mast cells are more abundant in cholangiopathies such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) or PBC (77, 79), and mast cell-deficient mice are protected from liver damage induced by bile duct ligation (80). Whether their antigen-presenting capacity is relevant for these liver diseases remains to be elucidated.

Similar to mast cells, neutrophils are capable of functioning as APCs under inflammatory condition in vitro (81, 82). Because these cells are recruited in larger numbers in liver inflammation and especially during infection, their APC capacity might be considered in future studies influencing liver pathology.

Presentation of Lipid Antigens on CD1D Molecule

The CD1 family of proteins is able to bind and present lipid antigens (83). Five members belong to this family, and they are divided into two groups. CD1a-c belong to the first group, which present various lipids from microbes to α:β T-cells and the second group with CD1d, which presents self-lipid antigens to CD1d-restricted natural killer T-cells (NKT) (84, 85). The fifth member CD1e shows characteristics from both groups (84). Most of the studies address CD1d-mediated antigen presentation in the liver. CD1d-restricted NKT cells are innate lymphocytes capable of immediate release of effector cytokines upon TCR stimuli. Type I NKT cells express a semi-invariant TCR and are therefore also called invariant NKT cells (iNKT), whereas type II NKT or diverse NKT cells express variable TCR (85). Several cell types in the liver are known to express CD1d molecules, present lipid moieties, and therefore activate iNKT cells. Cholangiocytes express CD1d in a consecutive manner and are able to activate iNKT cells in vitro (86). Moreover, HSCs pulsed with alpha-galactosylceramide (αGalCer), a model antigen for CD1d presentation, can also activate iNKT cells and result in IFNγ release (55). Additionally, HSCs can provide the activated NKT cells with IL-15 needed for further NKT cell proliferation (Figure 1B) (55). Hepatocytes also activate iNKT cells and can additionally control NKT cell survival (Figure 1A) (87). iNKT cells activated by αGalCer-pulsed hepatocytes release only IL-4, whereas activation of these cells by DCs leads additionally to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokine IFNγ (88). A release of IFNγ during hepatocyte presentation was only possible when exogenous IL-12 was added to the reaction (88). On the contrary, HBV-infected primary hepatocytes are able to activate NKT cells to produce IFNγ without any other stimulating cytokine (89).

Increased abundance or activation and cytokine release of NKT (innate lymphocyte) cell populations have been investigated in multiple liver diseases, and NKT cells have been considered as therapeutic targets (3, 90). On the other hand, liver biopsies from PSC, PBC, and alcoholic cirrhosis patients showed a decrease in CD1d expression compared to healthy livers (86). Another study reported that the loss of CD1d was more common in advanced PBC than in the early stage of PBC (91). Also CD1d expression on mouse hepatocytes is reduced in steatosis (87). These data might indicate antigen presentation changes in CD1d during liver diseases, but from the antigen presentation perspective the above-mentioned APCs have not been investigated in detail.

Summary and Outlook

Taken together, in the liver microenvironment a complex network of various cell populations ensures the control of T-cell responses. Antigen presentation by non-professional APCs mostly results in T-cell tolerance or quiescent memory T-cell formation (Figure 1; Table 1). Additionally, an extensive regulatory apparatus in a bystander manner ensures the maintenance of the tolerogenic milieu in the liver (Figure 1). Importantly, these tolerogenic mechanisms do not hinder the ability of the liver to effectively respond to danger/infectious signals. While some of the non-professional APCs can trigger efficient T-cell responses, the generation of immunity is mostly related to DC populations in draining LN or monocyte-derived DCs in intrahepatic myeloid-cell aggregates for T-cell population expansion structures (92).

Table 1.

Non-professional antigen-presenting cells and their immunoregulatory effect in the liver XP: cross-presentation; ?: not investigated in the liver; investigated in human (H) or in mouse (M) samples.

Cell type	Antigen presentation	Outcome	Immunoregulatory for bystander T cell activation	Reference
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs)	Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I, MHC-II, and XP	Induction of CD25lowFoxP3− regulatory T-cells (Tregs) (M); LSEC primed CD8+ memory T-cells (M); and effector cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte (M)	Inhibition of T-cell activation (LSECtin) and dendritic cell (DC) antigen presentation (ICAM-1)	(27, 29, 30, 33, 36, 40)
Hepatocytes	MHC-I, CD1d, XP and MHC-II in inflammation	CD8+ T-cell Deletion (M); invariant natural killer cell (iNKT) activation (M); and Treg induction (M)	?	(20, 45, 46, 50, 87)
Hepatic stellate cells	MHC-I, CD1d, MHC-II (in the presence of interferon γ)	T-cell response controversial (M) and iNKT activation (M)	CD4+ Treg differentiation (retinoid acid) and inhibition of DC antigen presentation (CD54)	(54, 55, 63, 64)
Cholangiocytes	MHC-I, MHC class I-like-related molecule, and CD1d	CD8+ T-cell response controversial (M); mucosal-associated invariant T-cell activation (H); and iNKT activation in vitro (H + M)	?	(52, 68, 86)

Understanding the antigen presentation and consequent T-cell responses in the liver environment is especially important not only for the comprehension of liver diseases but also to uncover how the liver influences systemic immunity and tolerance.

Author Contributions

CM performed literature search and wrote the manuscript and prepared the table and figure. SZ prepared the figure. MK supervised and critically read the manuscript. VL-K developed the concept of the manuscript, supervised, and wrote the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Abbreviations

αGalCer, alpha-galactosylceramide; APC, antigen-presenting cell; CD, cluster of differentiation; CTL, cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte; DAMP, damage-associated molecular pattern; DC, dendritic cell; FoxP3, Forkhead-Box-Protein P3; GzmB, granzyme B; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HLA, human leukocyte antigen; HSC, hepatic stellate cell; IDO, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase; IL, interleukin; IFN, interferon; iMATE, intrahepatic myeloid-cell aggregates for T-cell population expansion; iNKT, invariant natural killer cell; KC, Kupffer cell; LEC, lymphatic endothelial cell; LRP-1, lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1; LSEC, liver sinusoidal endothelial cell; MAIT, mucosal-associated invariant T-cell; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; MR1, MHC class I-like-related molecule; OT-I/II cell, MHC class I/II-restricted ovalbumin-specific CD8⁺ T-cell; TGFβ, transforming growth factor beta; PBC, primary biliary cholangitis; PSC, primary sclerosing cholangitis; TCR, T-cell receptor; T_H, helper T-cell; TLR, toll-like receptor; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; T_regs, regulatory T-cell.