RAB43 facilitates cross-presentation of cell-associated antigens by CD8α⁺ dendritic cells

In this study, to examine cross-presentation by classical dendritic cells (DCs; cDCs), we evaluated the role of RAB43, a protein found to be selectively expressed by Batf3-dependent CD8α⁺ and CD103⁺ compared with other DC subsets and immune lineages. Using a specific monoclonal antibody, we localized RAB43 expression to the Golgi apparatus and LAMP1^- cytoplasmic vesicles. Mice with germline or conditional deletion of Rab43 are viable and fertile and have normal development of cDCs but show a defect for in vivo and in vitro cross-presentation of cell-associated antigen. This defect is specific to cDCs, as Rab43- deficient monocyte-derived DCs showed no defect in cross-presentation of cell-associated antigen. These results suggest that RAB43 provides a specialized activity used in cross-presentation selectively by CD8α⁺ DCs but not other antigen-presenting cells.