Endocytosed soluble cowpox virus protein CPXV012 inhibits antigen cross-presentation in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Viruses may interfere with the MHC class I antigen presentation pathway in order to avoid CD8 ⁺ T cell-mediated immunity. A key target within this pathway is the peptide transporter TAP. This transporter plays a central role in MHC class I-mediated peptide presentation of endogenous antigens. In addition, TAP plays a role in antigen cross-presentation of exogenously derived antigens by dendritic cells (DCs). In this study, a soluble form of the cowpox virus TAP inhibitor CPXV012 is synthesized for exogenous delivery into the antigen cross-presentation route of human monocyte-derived (mo)DCs. We show that soluble CPXV012 localizes to TAP ⁺ compartments that carry internalized antigen and is a potent inhibitor of antigen cross-presentation. CPXV012 stimulates the prolonged deposition of antigen fragments in storage compartments of moDCs, as a result of reduced endosomal acidification and reduced antigen proteolysis when soluble CPXV012 is present. Thus, a dual function can be proposed for CPXV012: inhibition of TAP-mediated peptide transport and inhibition of endosomal antigen degradation. We propose this second function for soluble CPXV012 can serve to interfere with antigen cross-presentation in a peptide transport-independent manner. Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) efficiently cross-present antigen to CD8 ⁺ T-cells, which is diminished in the presence of soluble cowpox virus protein 12 (sCPXV012). Our findings indicate that sCPXV012, when taken up into antigen storage compartments by MoDCs, prevents endosomal acidification and subsequent degradation of antigen into smaller peptides.