title: Modulation of tumor immunity by soluble and membrane-bound molecules at the immunological synapse.
abstract: To circumvent pathology caused by infectious microbes and tumor growth, the host immune system must constantly clear harmful microorganisms and potentially malignant transformed cells. This task is accomplished in part by T-cells, which can directly kill infected or tumorigenic cells. A crucial event determining the recognition and elimination of detrimental cells is antigen recognition by the T cell receptor (TCR) expressed on the surface of T cells. Upon binding of the TCR to cognate peptide-MHC complexes presented on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APCs), a specialized supramolecular structure known as the immunological synapse (IS) assembles at the T cell-APC interface. Such a structure involves massive redistribution of membrane proteins, including TCR/pMHC complexes, modulatory receptor pairs, and adhesion molecules. Furthermore, assembly of the immunological synapse leads to intracellular events that modulate and define the magnitude and characteristics of the T cell response. Here, we discuss recent literature on the regulation and assembly of IS and the mechanisms evolved by tumors to modulate its function to escape T cell cytotoxicity, as well as novel strategies targeting the IS for therapy.
authors.affiliation: Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins no. 340, Santiago 8331010, Chile.
authors.forename: Pablo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Leandro J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Carreño
authors.forename: Pablo F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Céspedes
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: Claudia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.forename: Alexis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kalergis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D054992:Immunological Synapses / Q000276:immunology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D012995:Solubility; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019139:Tumor Escape
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell