The immunological synapse.
The immunological synapse plays a central role in organising the immune system. Through their synaptic activity both T and B cells usually, but not always, acquire the information that critically determines the level and nature of the responses that they make. For T cells much of that information comes from epicrine and paracrine cell-cell interactions in the cluster that forms around a dendritic cell. These interactions are being dissected by experiments in which two populations of TCR-transgenic T cells are combined in vivo. Another important aspect of synaptic activity is the way in which different levels of expression of MHC class II molecules influence Th1/Th2 balance. In exploring this form of control we are learning something of general importance about cis-regulation.
Creusot
R J
RJ
Windeyer Institute of Medical Science, University College London, 46 Cleveland Street, W1T 4JF, UK.
Mitchison
N A
NA
Terazzini
N M
NM
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology