IgG immune complexes (ICs) are generated during immune responses to
infection and
self-antigen and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of
autoimmune diseases such as
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Their role, and that of the fragment crystallizable (
Fc) receptors that bind them, in driving local
inflammation is not fully understood. Low affinity-activating Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) that bind
immune complexes are controlled by a single inhibitory receptor, FcγRIIb (CD32b). We investigated whether FcγR cross-linking by IC might induce
VEGF-A and lymph node lymphangiogenesis. Murine macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) stimulated with ICs produced
VEGF-A, and this was inhibited by coligation of FcγRIIb. Similarly, IC-induced
VEGF-A production by B cells was inhibited by FcγRIIb. In vivo, IC generation resulted in
VEGF-A-dependent intranodal lymphangiogenesis and increased DC number. We sought to determine the relevance of these findings to autoimmunity because elevated serum
VEGF-A has been observed in patients with SLE; we found that lymphangiogenesis and
VEGF-A were increased in the lymph nodes of mice with
collagen-induced arthritis and SLE. In humans, a SLE-associated polymorphism (rs1050501) results in a dysfunctional FcγRIIB(T232) receptor. Monocyte-derived macrophages from subjects with the FcγRIIB(T/T232) genotype showed increased FcγR-mediated
VEGF-A production, demonstrating a similar process is likely to occur in humans. Thus, ICs contribute to
inflammation through
VEGF-A-driven lymph node lymphangiogenesis, which is controlled by FcγRIIb. These findings have implications for the pathogenesis, and perhaps future treatment, of
autoimmune diseases.