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Fcα/μ receptor mediates endocytosis of IgM-coated microbes

Abstract

IgM is the first antibody to be produced in a humoral immune response and plays an important role in the primary stages of immunity. Here we describe a mouse Fc receptor, designated Fcα/μR, and its human homolog, that bind both IgM and IgA with intermediate or high affinity. Fcα/μR is constitutively expressed on the majority of B lymphocytes and macrophages. Cross-linking Fcα/μR expressed on a pro-B cell line Ba/F3 transfectant with soluble IgM or IgM-coated microparticles induced internalization of the receptor. Fcα/μR also mediated primary B lymphocyte endocytosis of IgM-coated Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, Fcα/μR is involved in the primary stages of the immune response to microbes.

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Figure 1: Molecular and biochemical characterization of Fcα/μR.
Figure 2: Expression of mFcα/μR.
Figure 3: Binding of immunoglobulins to mFcα/μR.
Figure 4: Internalization of mFcα/μR.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Iwama, Y. Nakamura, H. Ema, M. Onodera, H. Miyoshi for discussions; Y. Morita and R. Shimamura for assistance with flow cytometry; and M. Ito for secretarial assistance. Supported in part by grants from the Sandler Family Supporting Foundation (to L. L. L.), the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan (to A. S.), and the Wellcome Trust and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (to G. R. S.). DNAX Research Institute is supported by Schering-Plough Corporation (NJ).

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Correspondence to Akira Shibuya.

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Shibuya, A., Sakamoto, N., Shimizu, Y. et al. Fcα/μ receptor mediates endocytosis of IgM-coated microbes. Nat Immunol 1, 441–446 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/80886

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