Immunological Synapse

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Insights into Function of the Immunological Synapse from Studies with Supported Planar Bilayers

   • Michael L. Dustin

   Pages 1-24

3. Immunological Synapses Within Context: Patterns of Cell–Cell Communication and Their Application in T–T Interactions

   • Junsang Doh, Matthew F. Krummel

   Pages 25-50

4. Molecular and Cellular Dynamics at the Early Stages of Antigen Encounter: The B-Cell Immunological Synapse

   • Yolanda R. Carrasco

   Pages 51-62

5. Inhibitory and Regulatory Immune Synapses

   • Philipp Eissmann, Daniel M. Davis

   Pages 63-79

6. The Immunological Synapse, TCR Microclusters, and T Cell Activation

   • Tadashi Yokosuka, Takashi Saito

   Pages 81-107

7. Signaling Amplification at the Immunological Synapse

   • Antonella Viola, Rita Lucia Contento, Barbara Molon

   Pages 109-122

8. Multiple Microclusters: Diverse Compartments Within the Immune Synapse

   • Stephen C. Bunnell

   Pages 123-154

9. A Conformation-Induced Oligomerization Model for B cell Receptor Microclustering and Signaling

   • Pavel Tolar, Susan K. Pierce

   Pages 155-169

10. Co-Receptors and Recognition of Self at the Immunological Synapse

    • Nicholas R. J. Gascoigne, Tomasz Zal, Pia P. Yachi, John A. H. Hoerter

    Pages 171-189

11. Vesicle Traffic to the Immunological Synapse: A Multifunctional Process Targeted by Lymphotropic Viruses

    • Andrés Alcover, Maria-Isabel Thoulouze

    Pages 191-207

12. Plasticity of Immunological Synapses

    • Salvatore Valitutti, Loïc Dupré

    Pages 209-228

13. APC, T Cells, and the Immune Synapse

    • Peter Reichardt, Bastian Dornbach, Matthias Gunzer

    Pages 229-249

14. Back Matter

    Pages 251-255

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The proper physiological functioning of most eukaryotic cells requires their assembly into multi-cellular tissues that form organized organ systems. Cells of the immune system develop in bone marrow and lymphoid organs, but as the cells mature they leave these organs and circulate as single cells. Antigen receptors (TCRs) of T cells search for membrane MHC proteins that are bound to peptides derived from infectious pathogens or cellular transformations. The detection of such speci?c peptide–MHC antigens initiates T cell activation, adhesion, and immune-effectors functions. Studies of normal and transformed T cell lines and of T cells from transgenic mice led to comprehensive understanding of the mole- lar basis of antigen-receptor recognition and signaling. In spite of these remarkable genetic and biochemical advances, other key physiological mechanisms that par- cipate in sensing and decoding the immune context to induce the appropriate cellular immune responses remain unresolved. TCRrecognition is tightly regulated to trigger sensitive but balanced T cell responses that result in the effective elimination of the pathogens while minimizing collateral damage to the host. The sensitivity of TCR recognition has to be properly tempered to prevent unintended activation by self-peptide–MHC complexes that cause autoimmune diseases. It is likely that once the TCR is engaged by a peptide– MHC and TCR signaling begins, additional regulatory mechanisms, involving other receptors, would increase the ?delity of the response.

• Antigen
• B-cell receptor
• T-cell activation
• antigen encounter
• antigen recognition
• cell-cell communication
• co-receptors
• immunological synapse formation
• innate immunity
• lymphotrophic viruses
• natural killer cells

• Allergy & Immunology, RIKEN Research Center for, okohama City, Kanagawa, Japan

  Takashi Saito

• London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, London, United Kingdom

  Facundo D. Batista

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