Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Synapse

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.

Actin Treadmilling

Actin Treadmilling

Actin filaments undergo polymerization and depolymerization from either end. The polymerization and depolymerization rates depend on the cytosolic concentration of free G-actins. The polymerization rate is generally higher at the plus or barbed end, while the depolymerization rate is higher at the minus or pointed end. At a steady state, critical concentration describes the concentration of free G-actin monomers at which the polymerization rate at the plus end is equal to that of the...

Electrical Synapses

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...

Chemical Synapses

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

Chemical Synapses

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

What is the Immune System?

What is the Immune System?

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

VDJ-REMIX: REpertoire Module Identification and eXploration.

Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)·2026

Same author

Human CD8-iTreg are potent GVHD suppressors and tumoricidal effectors by release of Granzyme-K <sup>+</sup> Supramolecular Attack Particles.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Multiple broadly neutralizing antibody lineages can co-exist and mature in the same germinal centers.

Cell reports·2026

Same author

PTPN22 regulates T cell synapse formation through PSTPIP1-dependent actin remodeling.

Science signaling·2026

Same author

PD-1 signaling and PD-1 blockade-mediated tumor control are established at microvillar T cell contacts.

Science immunology·2026

Same author

Delayed type I interferon response and the subsequent out-of-sequence cytokine signal inhibit T cell induction in non-surviving Ebola virus-infected patients.

Frontiers in immunology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

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

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

Published on: April 9, 2018

F-Actin-Driven CD28-CD80 Localization in the Immune Synapse.

Anastasios Siokis¹, Philippe A Robert¹, Philippos Demetriou²

¹Department of Systems Immunology and Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig 38106, Germany.

|August 2, 2018

Summary

This study models T-cell activation, revealing how molecular positioning during immunological synapse formation impacts T-cell receptor signaling. Actin flow and size-based segregation drive key molecular gradients, influencing T-cell responses.

Keywords:

CD28 F-actin flow agent-based modeling immulogical synapse molecular transport pattern formation

More Related Videos

Studying Organelle Dynamics in B Cells During Immune Synapse Formation

Studying Organelle Dynamics in B Cells During Immune Synapse Formation

Published on: June 1, 2019

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

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

Published on: January 7, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 7, 2026

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

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

Published on: April 9, 2018

Studying Organelle Dynamics in B Cells During Immune Synapse Formation

Studying Organelle Dynamics in B Cells During Immune Synapse Formation

Published on: June 1, 2019

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

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

Published on: January 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Immunology
Computational Biology
Cellular Dynamics

Background:

During immunological synapse (IS) formation, precise spatial organization of signaling molecules is crucial for T-cell activation.
Key molecules like T-cell receptor (TCR), integrins, and costimulatory molecules localize dynamically within the IS.
Understanding these spatial dynamics is vital for deciphering T-cell activation and fate decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an agent-based model simulating IS formation.
To investigate the roles of TCR-pMHC, LFA-1-ICAM-1, and CD28-ligand interactions in IS organization.
To elucidate the impact of actin flow and size-based segregation on molecular positioning.

Main Methods:

Agent-based modeling of IS formation.
Simulation of molecular dynamics including TCR-pMHC, LFA-1-ICAM-1, and CD28-ligand interactions.
Incorporation of centripetal actin flow and size-based segregation (SBS) mechanisms.

Main Results:

A radial gradient of LFA-1 from the peripheral (pSMAC) to the central (cSMAC) region was observed, driven by actin binding and diffusion.
Simulations predict CD28-CD80 complexes passively follow TCR-pMHC microclusters.
Specific CD28-actin coupling strength is required for the characteristic ring localization of CD28-CD80 around the cSMAC.

Conclusions:

Actin flow and diffusion dynamics are critical in establishing LFA-1 gradients within the IS.
CD28 localization is dependent on its coupling strength to the actin cytoskeleton, influencing T-cell activation.
The model provides insights into molecular mechanisms governing T-cell activation and potential fate decisions.