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Mechanical Communication at the Immunological Synapse

Roshni Basu1, Morgan Huse1

  • 1Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.

Trends in Cell Biology
|December 18, 2016
PubMed

T and B lymphocytes communicate by forming immunological synapses with antigen-presenting target cells. These highly dynamic contacts are characterized by continuous cytoskeletal remodeling events, which not only structure the interface but also exert a considerable amount of mechanical force. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that synaptic forces influence information transfer both into and out of the lymphocyte. Here, we review our current understanding of synapse mechanics, focusing on its role as an avenue for intercellular communication.

Keywords:
B cellT cellimmunologymechanobiologysignal transduction

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