Efficient Apical IgG Recycling and Apical-to-basolateral Transcytosis in Polarized BeWo Cells Overexpressing hFcRn

The human neonatal Fcγ-receptor (hFcRn) involved in overall maternal-fetal IgG transmission is expressed in placental villous syncytiotrophoblast. However, the role of hFcRn in IgG transport and trafficking across this cell layer is poorly characterized. To gain insight into this mechanism we have overexpressed functional hFcRn in trophoblast-derived BeWo cells (BeWo/hFcRn cells) [Ellinger I, Reischer H, Lehner C, Leitner K, Hunziker W, Fuchs R. Placenta 2005;26:171-82] since parental BeWo cells endogenously express low levels of the receptor. We now demonstrate that hFcRn overexpression differentially affected apical-to-basolateral transcytosis and apical recycling: whereas IgG transcytosis was reduced by 35%, IgG recycling was stimulated by 100% as compared to parental cells, indicating that hFcRn plays a role in both processes. The endosomal compartments involved in hFcRn/IgG transport after apical IgG internalization were then analyzed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy using compartment specific markers. hFcRn/IgG were found in apical early endosomes, in transferrin recycling compartments and in vesicles near the basolateral plasma membrane, presumably transcytotic vesicles. Neither hFcRn nor IgG was routed to the degradative pathway to lysosomes. These transport and localization data are in accordance with efficient hFcRn-mediated apical IgG recycling and basolateral directed IgG transcytosis in placental trophoblasts.