The immunological synapse.
T-cell activation requires interaction of T-cell antigen receptors with proteins of the major histocompatibility complex (antigen). This interaction takes place in a specialized cell-cell junction referred to as an immunological synapse. The immunological synapse contains at least two functional domains: a central cluster of engaged antigen receptors and a surrounding ring of adhesion molecules. The segregation of the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) and adhesion molecules is based on size, with the TCR interaction spanning 15 nm and the lymphocyte-function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) interaction spanning 30-40 nm between the two cells. Therefore, the synapse is not an empty gap, but a space populated by both adhesion and signaling molecules. This chapter considers four aspects of the immunological synapse: the role of migration and stop signals, the role of the cytoskeleton, the role of self-antigenic complexes, and the role of second signals.
Dustin
Michael L
ML
Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York 10016, USA. dustin@saturn.med.nyu.edu
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology