title: Immunological synapse and microclusters: the site for recognition and activation of T cells.
abstract: An immunological synapse (IS) is formed at the interface between antigen-presenting cells and T cells, and is believed to be the structure responsible for antigen recognition and T-cell activation. However, recent imaging analyses reveal that T-cell receptor microclusters (MCs) formed prior to IS are the site for antigen recognition and T-cell activation. MCs are continuously generated at the periphery of the interface, even after IS formation, and induce sustained activation signals. MC formation is not accompanied by lipid-raft clustering. Central supramolecular activation cluster is considered functional in recycling and degradation of T-cell receptors, directional secretion of cytokines and cytolytic granules, generation of sustained signals, or maintenance of the cell-cell conjugation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Cell Signaling, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan. saito@rcai.riken.jp
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokosuka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell