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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse
Published on: December 26, 2019
Origins of the cytolytic synapse
Maike de la Roche1,2, Yukako Asano1, Gillian M Griffiths1
1Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
Abstract:
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) kill virus-infected and tumour cells with remarkable specificity. Upon recognition, CTLs form a cytolytic immune synapse with their target cell, and marked reorganization of both the actin and the microtubule cytoskeletons brings the centrosome up to the plasma membrane to the point of T cell receptor signalling. Secretory granules move towards the centrosome and are delivered to this focal point of secretion. Such centrosomal docking at the plasma membrane also occurs during ciliogenesis; indeed, striking similarities exist between the cytolytic synapse and the primary cilium that throw light on the possible origins of immune synapses.
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