Cathepsin L: Critical Role in Ii Degradation and CD4 T Cell Selection in the Thymus

Degradation of invariant chain (Ii) is a critical step in major histocompatibility complex class II–restricted antigen presentation. Cathepsin L was found to be necessary for Ii degradation in cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs), but not in bone marrow (BM)–derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Consequently, positive selection of CD4 + T cells was reduced. Because different cysteine proteinases are responsible for specific Ii degradation steps in cTECs and BM-derived APCs, the proteolytic environment in cells mediating positive and negative selection may be distinct. The identification of a protease involved in class II presentation in a tissue-specific manner suggests a potential means of manipulating CD4 + T cell responsiveness in vivo.