Origins of the cytolytic synapse.
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) kill virus-infected and tumour cells with remarkable specificity. Upon recognition, CTLs form a cytolytic immune synapse with their target cell, and marked reorganization of both the actin and the microtubule cytoskeletons brings the centrosome up to the plasma membrane to the point of T cell receptor signalling. Secretory granules move towards the centrosome and are delivered to this focal point of secretion. Such centrosomal docking at the plasma membrane also occurs during ciliogenesis; indeed, striking similarities exist between the cytolytic synapse and the primary cilium that throw light on the possible origins of immune synapses.
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.|CRUK-Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
Maike
M
de la Roche
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
Yukako
Y
Asano
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
Gillian M
GM
Griffiths
D000818:Animals; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D054992:Immunological Synapses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure