Integration of the movement of signaling microclusters with cellular motility in immunological synapses

Nat Immunol. 2012 Jul 1;13(8):787-95. doi: 10.1038/ni.2364.

Abstract

Immune synapses form between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Increasing evidence suggests synapses must form flexibly to accommodate ongoing motility and displacement of the synapse. Here, time-lapse total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy showed that signaling via the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) occurred during synapse translation. TCR microclusters in motile synapses did not flow directly into supramolecular activating complexes (SMACs) but were directed, independently of myosin II contractility, toward an F-actin-poor 'sink' region. Inward microcluster flow often followed collapse of the leading edge, which suggested that actin depolymerization regulated microcluster flow and the formation of SMACs. The coordination of TCR movement with the translocation of this 'sink' shows how T cells coordinate TCR signaling and microcluster flow in dynamic physiological synapses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Membrane / immunology
  • Cell Movement / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Immunological Synapses / immunology*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Myosin Type II / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Myosin Type II