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 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 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.
