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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Visualizing the Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeletons at the B-cell Immune Synapse Using Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy
Published on: April 9, 2018
Molecular and cellular dynamics at the early stages of antigen encounter: the B-cell immunological synapse
1Department of Immunology and Oncology, National Centre of Biotechnology/CSIC, UAM-Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, E-28049, Spain. ycarrasco@cnb.csic.es
Abstract:
The recent development and application of sophisticated technology in the study of the initial stages of the B-cell immune response has lead to a tremendous revolution in the field. The use of real-time confocal microscopy, total interference reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and in vitro models has revealed the molecular details of the antigen recognition process by B cells. Moreover, experimental models that allow tracking of antigen in vivo in concert with multiphoton microscopy have provided critical information as to the how, where, and when naïve B cells encounter antigen in vivo. This review focuses on the latest data regarding the early phase of the humoral immune response at molecular and cellular levels.
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