Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026
10:00
Visualization of the Immunological Synapse by Dual Color Time-gated Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Nanoscopy
Published on: March 24, 2014
The immunological synapse.
S K Bromley1, W R Burack, K G Johnson
1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Annual Review of Immunology
|March 13, 2001
Summary
The immunological synapse forms via T cell-APC interactions, involving membrane structure, signaling, and cell polarization. This review details synapse formation in T cells and natural killer cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The adaptive immune response relies on T cell-antigen-presenting cell (APC) interactions at the immunological synapse.
- Understanding synapse formation is crucial for T cell activation and immune response modulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the concept of immunological synapse formation.
- To explore the roles of membrane structure, T cell polarity, signaling pathways, and APCs in this process.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on immunological synapse formation.
- Analysis of T cell polarization, membrane domains, and signaling pathways.
- Extension of models to natural killer (NK) cell synapses.
Main Results:
- Membrane domains compartmentalize the immunological synapse.
- T cell polarization enhances antigen sensitivity.
- Signaling and synapse formation are intertwined in mature T cells.
- Inhibitory NK synapses demonstrate signaling's role in synapse state.
Conclusions:
- Immunological synapse formation is a complex process involving multiple cellular components and signaling events.
- The APC plays an active role, especially in naive T cell activation.
- Models of synapse formation can be extended to NK cells, highlighting inhibitory mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
02:47The Synapse
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
01:28Electrical Synapses
Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
01:26Chemical Synapses
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
01:19The Neuromuscular Junction
The nervous system consists of complex motor neuron circuits, including upper motor neurons originating from the cerebral cortex and lower motor neurons starting in the spinal cord, coordinating both voluntary and involuntary movements. Among these, somatic motor neurons activate skeletal muscles and are classified into alpha, beta, and gamma types. Alpha neurons are vital for voluntary movement coordination, while gamma neurons adjust muscle spindle sensitivity, and the function of beta...
01:25Overview of Synapses
A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
01:26Chemical Synapses
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...