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

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin networks...
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells01:10

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They  are held...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

<i>Cdc42</i> defect reveals insights into microvilli organization and function in T cell immunity.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

A milder form of NSRP1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder, caused by a missense variant in the nuclear localization signal.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2024
Same author

Cell Type- and Age-Specific Expression of lncRNAs across Kidney Cell Types.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN·2024
Same author

Identification of side effects of COVID-19 drug candidates on embryogenesis using an integrated zebrafish screening platform.

Scientific reports·2023
Same author

Discovery of antiviral SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors by structure-guided hit-to-lead optimization of carmofur.

European journal of medicinal chemistry·2023
Same author

The Immunosuppressive Potential of Cholesterol Sulfate Through T Cell Microvilli Disruption.

Immune network·2023
Same journal

In Search of Adaptive-Like Features of NK Cells Co-Expressing NKG2C and NKG2A.

Immune network·2026
Same journal

Immunosenescence and Cancer: Cellular Aging Programs That Reshape Antitumor Immunity.

Immune network·2026
Same journal

Complement Anaphylatoxin C5a-Induced Mouse Lymphatic Functions Modulate Interactions Between Endothelial Cells and T Lymphocytes.

Immune network·2026
Same journal

Defining PI3K Signaling as a Key Regulator of Molecular Heterogeneity and Inflammation in Glomerular Lupus Nephritis.

Immune network·2026
Same journal

Beyond Perineural Drainage: Revisiting the Olfactory Nerve as an Active Immunological Interface During Neuroinflammation.

Immune network·2026
Same journal

Cigarette Smoke Induces the Pro-inflammatory Response of Lung Macrophages via Activation of the IL-33/ST2-Dependent Pathway.

Immune network·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

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

Actin engine in immunological synapse.

Indre Piragyte1, Chang-Duk Jun

  • 1Immune Synapse Research Center and Cell Dynamics Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, Korea.

Immune Network
|August 24, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The actin cytoskeleton is crucial for immune cells to form the immunological synapse, enabling T cell activation and function. Understanding actin regulators helps explain how cells sense and respond to mechanical signals during cell-cell interactions.

Keywords:
ActinImmunological synapseRegulationT cells

More Related Videos

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Immune Synapse in the Human System Using Imaging Flow Cytometry
08:35

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Immune Synapse in the Human System Using Imaging Flow Cytometry

Published on: January 7, 2019

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse
09:37

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

Published on: December 26, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

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

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Immune Synapse in the Human System Using Imaging Flow Cytometry
08:35

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Immune Synapse in the Human System Using Imaging Flow Cytometry

Published on: January 7, 2019

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse
09:37

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

Published on: December 26, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • T cell activation relies on physical contact with antigen-presenting cells at the immunological synapse.
  • The immunological synapse facilitates sustained T cell receptor signaling and cell adhesion.
  • Recent research explores the mechanical aspects of immune cell interactions, including mechanosensitivity and force generation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of actin regulators in immune cell mechanosensitivity.
  • To explain how dynamic actin rearrangement drives immunological synapse formation.
  • To connect the biophysics of cell-cell interactions with T cell function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on actin cytoskeleton dynamics.
  • Analysis of research on mechanosensitivity and force generation in immune cells.
  • Examination of actin regulators involved in immunological synapse formation.

Main Results:

  • Actin cytoskeleton is essential for the dynamic and precise functions of immune cells.
  • Cells exhibit sensitivity to external signals like surface rigidity, mediated by mechanical regulation.
  • Actin regulators orchestrate dynamic actin rearrangements critical for synapse formation.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding actin regulators is key to comprehending immunological synapse formation and T cell function.
  • The mechanical properties of immune cell interactions are increasingly recognized as vital.
  • Further research into the biophysics of cell-cell contact will advance immunology.