Concerning immune synapses: a spatiotemporal timeline.
The term "immune synapse" was originally coined to highlight the similarities between the synaptic contacts between neurons in the central nervous system and the cognate, antigen-dependent interactions between T cells and antigen-presenting cells. Here, instead of offering a comprehensive molecular catalogue of molecules involved in the establishment, stabilization, function, and resolution of the immune synapse, we follow a spatiotemporal timeline that begins at the initiation of exploratory contacts between the T cell and the antigen-presenting cell and ends with the termination of the contact. We focus on specific aspects that distinguish synapses established by cytotoxic and T helper cells as well as unresolved issues and controversies regarding the formation of this intercellular structure.
Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain.
Alvaro
A
Ortega-Carrion
Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain.
Miguel
M
Vicente-Manzanares
Immune synapse; T cell activation; T-Cell; antigen presenting cell