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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

An Endothelial Planar Cell Model for Imaging Immunological Synapse Dynamics
Published on: December 24, 2015
Role of ICAM-3 in the initial interaction of T lymphocytes and APCs
María C Montoya1, David Sancho, Grégory Bonello
1Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de la Princesa, C/ Diego de León 62, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Antigen-independent adhesive interactions between T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are essential for scanning for specific antigens on the APC surface and for initiating the immune response. Here we show, through time-lapse imaging of live cells, that the intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (ICAM-3, also known as CD50) is clustered specifically at the region of the T lymphocyte surface that initiates contact with APCs. We describe the role of ICAM-3 in T cell-APC conjugate formation before antigen recognition, in early intracellular signaling and in cytoskeletal rearrangement. Our data indicate that ICAM-3 is important in the initial scanning of the APC surface by T cells and, therefore, in generating the immune response.
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