FIND ARTICLE

Volume: 
Issue: 
4
Date of issue: 
T cells and antigen presenting cells (APC) form a specialized cell-cell junction termed the immunological synapse (IS). It is characterized by a central region of antigen receptors, a ring of integrin family adhesion molecules, and temporal stability over hours. This minireview discusses the current knowledge on the formation, function and diversity of immunological synapses. Cytoskeletal remodeling in T cells, which is connected with signals delivered by costimulatory molecules, plays a crucial role in a formation of IS. Microclusters (MCs) are the site for initial and sustained T cell receptor (TCR) signals. T lymphocytes form different ISs depending on their state of activation, on APCs with which they interact, also on environmental conditions and antigen load. The types of interactions between T cells and APC range from stable and long lived to dynamic and short lived. Although biological role of the IS has not been fully characterized we know well that this process is crucial for the antigen recognition particularly in the adaptive immune response of T cells.
Author of the article: 

The Editorial Board
Andrzej Łukaszyk - przewodniczący, Zofia Bielańska-Osuchowska, Szczepan Biliński, Mieczysław Chorąży, Aleksander Koj, Włodzimierz Korochoda, Leszek Kuźnicki, Aleksandra Stojałowska, Lech Wojtczak

Editorial address:
Katedra i Zakład Histologii i Embriologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Poznaniu, ul. Święcickiego 6, 60-781 Poznań, tel. +48 61 8546453, fax. +48 61 8546440, email: mnowicki@ump.edu.pl

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