Dendritic cell-lysosomal associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP)/CD208, also known as LAMP3, is a member of the lysosomal associated membrane protein (LAMP) family, which is specifically expressed by human dendritic cells (DCs) upon activation and therefore serves as a marker of human DC maturation. Confocal and immunoelectron microscopy showed that mouse DC-LAMP protein co-localizes with lbm180, a specific marker for the limiting membrane of lamellar bodies that contain surfactant protein B. The present study demonstrates that DC-LAMP is constitutively expressed by mouse, sheep, and human type II pneumocytes. DC-LAMP is constitutively expressed in normal type II pneumocytes. DC-LAMP is detected first in the activated human DC within MHC class II molecules-containing compartments just before the translocation of MHC class II-peptide complexes to the cell surface, suggesting a possible involvement in this process. Furthermore, overexpression of LAMP3 is actively involved in tumor invasion through increased migration into lymph-vascular spaces.
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