Gap junction-mediated antigen transport in immune responses.
Communication between cells is a crucial part of the immune response. The importance of cytokines and immunological synapses for this purpose has long been recognized. Connexin-based gap junctions that allow exchange of molecules between adjacent cells also seem to have an important role. Recent work suggests that gap junction-mediated antigen transport might be a mechanism of immune-response regulation. Here, we discuss this idea in more detail and suggest possible ways in which this mechanism might have both positive and negative impacts during an immune response.
Handel
Andreas
A
Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. ahandel@emory.edu
Yates
Andrew
A
Pilyugin
Sergei S
SS
Antia
Rustom
R
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D002450:Cell Communication; D017630:Connexins / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D017630:Connexins; D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I