The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is not essential for MHC-I antigen presentation

IntroductionThe presentation of pathogen-derived antigens on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I is crucial for the antiviral immune response. Degradation of intracellular pathogen-derived proteins by the 26S proteasome generates peptides that can be loaded on MHC-I molecules and presente...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Natalie Pach, Sarah Ochs, Jinjing Cao, Julia Ottlinger, Annette Aichem, Michael Basler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1636951/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849419376927703040
author Natalie Pach
Natalie Pach
Sarah Ochs
Jinjing Cao
Julia Ottlinger
Annette Aichem
Michael Basler
Michael Basler
author_facet Natalie Pach
Natalie Pach
Sarah Ochs
Jinjing Cao
Julia Ottlinger
Annette Aichem
Michael Basler
Michael Basler
author_sort Natalie Pach
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe presentation of pathogen-derived antigens on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I is crucial for the antiviral immune response. Degradation of intracellular pathogen-derived proteins by the 26S proteasome generates peptides that can be loaded on MHC-I molecules and presented to cytotoxic T cells. The cytokine-inducible ubiquitin-like modifier (ULM) HLA-F adjacent transcript 10 (FAT10) is encoded in the MHC locus and targets its substrates for proteasomal degradation. Therefore, it acts as an alternative signal for protein degradation, indicating a role in generating the peptide pool for MHC-I presentation. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of FAT10 in MHC class I presentation. MethodsUsing different human and mouse cell lines deficient for FAT10, the effect of FAT10 on MHC-I surface expression and recovery was studied. For the evaluation of antigen presentation of viral and endogenous epitopes, T cell hybridoma assays and flow cytometry analysis were used.ResultsIn our study, using model antigens and FAT10-deficient cells, we found that the absence of FAT10 does not affect the abundance of MHC-I molecules or the generation of endogenous and virus-derived MHC-I epitopes. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the cytotoxic T cell response to different viruses remains unchanged in FAT10-deficient mice compared to wild-type mice.DiscussionIn summary, our findings indicate that the lack of FAT10 does not impact antigen presentation or the cytotoxic T-cell response across a number of different MHC-I-restricted peptides. Hence, we conclude that the contribution of FAT10 to MHC-I antigen presentation has previously been overestimated.
format Article
id doaj-art-ecc8f5a2d8a34f75a60f7b0639398645
institution Kabale University
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-ecc8f5a2d8a34f75a60f7b06393986452025-08-20T03:32:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-08-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16369511636951The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is not essential for MHC-I antigen presentationNatalie Pach0Natalie Pach1Sarah Ochs2Jinjing Cao3Julia Ottlinger4Annette Aichem5Michael Basler6Michael Basler7Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology Thurgau (BITG) at the University of Konstanz, Kreuzlingen, SwitzerlandDivision of Immunology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, GermanyDivision of Immunology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, GermanyDivision of Immunology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, GermanyInstitute of Cell Biology and Immunology Thurgau (BITG) at the University of Konstanz, Kreuzlingen, SwitzerlandInstitute of Cell Biology and Immunology Thurgau (BITG) at the University of Konstanz, Kreuzlingen, SwitzerlandInstitute of Cell Biology and Immunology Thurgau (BITG) at the University of Konstanz, Kreuzlingen, SwitzerlandDivision of Immunology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, GermanyIntroductionThe presentation of pathogen-derived antigens on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I is crucial for the antiviral immune response. Degradation of intracellular pathogen-derived proteins by the 26S proteasome generates peptides that can be loaded on MHC-I molecules and presented to cytotoxic T cells. The cytokine-inducible ubiquitin-like modifier (ULM) HLA-F adjacent transcript 10 (FAT10) is encoded in the MHC locus and targets its substrates for proteasomal degradation. Therefore, it acts as an alternative signal for protein degradation, indicating a role in generating the peptide pool for MHC-I presentation. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of FAT10 in MHC class I presentation. MethodsUsing different human and mouse cell lines deficient for FAT10, the effect of FAT10 on MHC-I surface expression and recovery was studied. For the evaluation of antigen presentation of viral and endogenous epitopes, T cell hybridoma assays and flow cytometry analysis were used.ResultsIn our study, using model antigens and FAT10-deficient cells, we found that the absence of FAT10 does not affect the abundance of MHC-I molecules or the generation of endogenous and virus-derived MHC-I epitopes. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the cytotoxic T cell response to different viruses remains unchanged in FAT10-deficient mice compared to wild-type mice.DiscussionIn summary, our findings indicate that the lack of FAT10 does not impact antigen presentation or the cytotoxic T-cell response across a number of different MHC-I-restricted peptides. Hence, we conclude that the contribution of FAT10 to MHC-I antigen presentation has previously been overestimated.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1636951/fullFAT10UBDproteasomeMHC-Iantigen processingantigen presentation
spellingShingle Natalie Pach
Natalie Pach
Sarah Ochs
Jinjing Cao
Julia Ottlinger
Annette Aichem
Michael Basler
Michael Basler
The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is not essential for MHC-I antigen presentation
Frontiers in Immunology
FAT10
UBD
proteasome
MHC-I
antigen processing
antigen presentation
title The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is not essential for MHC-I antigen presentation
title_full The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is not essential for MHC-I antigen presentation
title_fullStr The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is not essential for MHC-I antigen presentation
title_full_unstemmed The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is not essential for MHC-I antigen presentation
title_short The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is not essential for MHC-I antigen presentation
title_sort ubiquitin like modifier fat10 is not essential for mhc i antigen presentation
topic FAT10
UBD
proteasome
MHC-I
antigen processing
antigen presentation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1636951/full
work_keys_str_mv AT nataliepach theubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT nataliepach theubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT sarahochs theubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT jinjingcao theubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT juliaottlinger theubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT annetteaichem theubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT michaelbasler theubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT michaelbasler theubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT nataliepach ubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT nataliepach ubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT sarahochs ubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT jinjingcao ubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT juliaottlinger ubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT annetteaichem ubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT michaelbasler ubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation
AT michaelbasler ubiquitinlikemodifierfat10isnotessentialformhciantigenpresentation