Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers
Published on: March 8, 2012
Adhesion molecule interactions facilitate human immunodeficiency virus type 1-induced virological synapse formation
Clare Jolly1, Ivonne Mitar, Quentin J Sattentau
1The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, The University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, United Kingdom. clare.jolly@path.ox.ac.uk
Abstract:
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can spread between CD4+ T cells by using a virological synapse (VS). The VS assembly is a cytoskeleton-driven process dependent on HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env)-receptor engagement and is hypothesized to require adhesion molecule interactions. Here we demonstrate that leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and ICAM-3 are enriched at the VS and that inhibition of these interactions influences conjugate formation and reduces VS assembly. Moreover, CD4+ T cells deficient in LFA-1 or with modified LFA-1 function were less able to support VS assembly and cell-cell transfer of HIV-1. Thus, cognate adhesion molecule interactions at the VS are important for HIV-1 spread between T cells.
Related Concept Videos
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...

