Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers01:15

Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers

Many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic; they do not cross the cell membrane but bind to cell-surface receptors. Thus, their message must be relayed by second messengers present in the cell cytoplasm. There are several second messenger pathways, each with its own way of relaying information. For example, the G protein-coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol pathway is active when the receptor induces...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
Intracellular Signaling Cascades01:24

Intracellular Signaling Cascades

Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
Intracellular Signaling Cascades01:24

Intracellular Signaling Cascades

Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The cytokine signature in multiple sclerosis: a study during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Frontiers in immunology·2026
Same author

Neurodevelopmental Phenotype Associated with <i>TRIP12</i>: Report of a Family Carrying the p.Asp1135Val Variant.

Genes·2025
Same author

Comprehensive Analysis of the Putative Substratome of FAM20C, the Master Serine Kinase of the Secretory Pathway.

Biomolecules·2025
Same author

Diagnostic Accuracy of Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis of Sepsis in Cancer Patients Hospitalized for Infection.

Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)·2025
Same author

Pathogenic KCNH2 variant in monozygotic twins with speech delay and lower risk type 2 long QT syndrome.

Neurogenetics·2025
Same author

Oncostatin M is dispensable for the regulation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell traffic by neutrophils.

iScience·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse
09:37

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

Published on: December 26, 2019

Signaling amplification at the immunological synapse.

Antonella Viola1, Rita Lucia Contento, Barbara Molon

  • 1Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Milan, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Clinico Humanitas, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy. antonella.viola@humanitas.it

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|December 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary

The immunological synapse, a T cell-APC junction, integrates signals for immune responses. Membrane receptors strategically tune T cell activation, influencing decisions between immunity and tolerance.

More Related Videos

Visualizing the Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeletons at the B-cell Immune Synapse Using Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy
11:00

Visualizing the Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeletons at the B-cell Immune Synapse Using Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy

Published on: April 9, 2018

Visualization of the Immunological Synapse by Dual Color Time-gated Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Nanoscopy
10:00

Visualization of the Immunological Synapse by Dual Color Time-gated Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Nanoscopy

Published on: March 24, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse
09:37

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

Published on: December 26, 2019

Visualizing the Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeletons at the B-cell Immune Synapse Using Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy
11:00

Visualizing the Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeletons at the B-cell Immune Synapse Using Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy

Published on: April 9, 2018

Visualization of the Immunological Synapse by Dual Color Time-gated Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Nanoscopy
10:00

Visualization of the Immunological Synapse by Dual Color Time-gated Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Nanoscopy

Published on: March 24, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Signaling

Background:

  • The immunological synapse (IS) is a critical interface between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs).
  • It facilitates signal transduction, molecular segregation, and bidirectional communication essential for T cell function.
  • The IS integrates signals from various receptors, including T-cell receptors (TCRs), adhesion, costimulatory, and coinhibitory molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which membrane receptors modulate T cell activation signals at the IS.
  • To highlight strategies employed by receptors to fine-tune T cell responses.
  • To emphasize the role of tunable activation thresholds in T cell decision-making (activation vs. tolerance).

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article; therefore, no primary experimental methods were employed.
  • Information was synthesized from existing peer-reviewed literature on T cell immunology and receptor signaling.
  • Focus is on analyzing and discussing established findings regarding IS structure and function.

Main Results:

  • The IS is a highly organized structure enabling precise signal integration and T cell activation.
  • Membrane receptors play a crucial role in decoding and integrating diverse signaling inputs.
  • Dynamic modulation of signaling pathways and activation thresholds allows T cells to interpret antigen presentation context.

Conclusions:

  • The immunological synapse is a sophisticated platform for T cell signal processing.
  • Membrane receptor strategies are key to regulating T cell sensitivity and response outcomes.
  • Fine-tuning of T cell activation is essential for distinguishing between pathogen recognition and self-tolerance.