[Immunological synapse is a dynamic signaling platform for T cell activation]

Adaptive immune responses are initiated by the recognition of antigens by T lymphocytes. Antigen recognition triggers the generation of immunological synapses. These are dynamic and finely organized cell-cell contacts formed between T lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells. Immunological synapse formation results from a major T cell reorganization process, involving the polarization of the actin cytoskeleton, the microtubule network and the intracellular vesicle traffic. These processes facilitate the generation, the dynamics and the regulation of molecular complexes at the synapse that are responsible for T cell activation. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) targets in various manners immunological synapse generation and function, thus modifying the capacity of infected T cells to respond to further antigen stimulation.