Cutting edge: dynamic redistribution of tetraspanin CD81 at the central zone of the immune synapse in both T lymphocytes and APC.
The tetraspanin CD81 has been involved in T-dependent B cell-mediated immune responses. However, the behavior of CD81 during immune synapse (IS) formation has not been elucidated. We determined herein that CD81 redistributed to the contact area of T cell-B cell and T cell-dendritic cell conjugates in an Ag-dependent manner. Confocal microscopy showed that CD81 colocalized with CD3 at the central supramolecular activation complex. Videomicroscopy studies with APC or T cells transiently expressing CD81-green fluorescent protein (GFP) revealed that in both cells CD81 redistributed toward the central supramolecular activation complex. In T lymphocytes, CD81-GFP rapidly redistributed to the IS, whereas, in the APC, CD81-GFP formed a large accumulation in the contact area that later concentrated in a discrete cluster and waves of CD81 accumulated at the IS periphery. These results suggest a relevant role for CD81 in the topography of the IS that would explain its functional implication in T cell-B cell collaboration.
Mittelbrunn
María
M
Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Yáñez-Mó
María
M
Sancho
David
D
Ursa
Angeles
A
Sánchez-Madrid
Francisco
F
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015703:Antigens, CD; C554798:CD81 protein, human; C554799:Cd81 protein, mouse; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins