MHC Class II Presentation of gp100 Epitopes in Melanoma Cells Requires the Function of Conventional Endosomes and Is Influenced by Melanosomes

Many human solid tumors express MHC class II (MHC-II) molecules, and proteins normally localized to melanosomes give rise to MHC-II-restricted epitopes in melanoma. However, the pathways by which this response occurs have not been defined. We analyzed the processing of one such epitope, gp100(44-59), derived from gp100/Pmel17. In melanomas that have down-regulated components of the melanosomal pathway, but constitutively express HLA-DR*0401, the majority of gp100 is sorted to LAMP-1(high)/MHC-II(+) late endosomes. Using mutant gp100 molecules with altered intracellular trafficking, we demonstrate that endosomal localization is necessary for gp100(44-59) presentation. By depletion of the AP-2 adaptor protein using small interfering RNA, we demonstrate that gp100 protein internalized from the plasma membrane to such endosomes is a major source for gp100(44-59) epitope production. The gp100 trapped in early endosomes gives rise to epitopes that are indistinguishable from those produced in late endosomes but their production is less sensitive to inhibition of lysosomal proteases. In melanomas containing melanosomes, gp100 is underrepresented in late endosomes, and accumulates in stage II melanosomes devoid of MHC-II molecules. The gp100(44-59) presentation is dramatically reduced, and processing occurs entirely in early endosomes or stage I melanosomes. This occurrence suggests that melanosomes are inefficient Ag-processing compartments. Thus, melanoma de-differentiation may be accompanied by increased presentation of MHC-II restricted epitopes from gp100 and other melanosome-localized proteins, leading to enhanced immune recognition.