Synthetic surfaces as artificial antigen presenting cells in the study of T cell receptor triggering and immunological synapse formation.
T cell activation occurs when T cell receptors engage peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) molecules displayed on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APCs). Clustering of TCRs and other receptors in physical patterns at the T-APC interface forms a structure known as an immunological synapse (IS). Studies of the IS are challenging due to the cell-cell contact context of the governing interactions. Model surfaces as synthetic APCs have thus been developed, where the type, quantity, and physical arrangement of ligands displayed to T cells are precisely controlled. These model systems have provided important insights into the structure and function of the IS.
Irvine
Darrell J
DJ
Department of Materials Science & Engineering and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. djirvine@mit.edu
Doh
Junsang
J
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell