Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2025

Visualizing the Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeletons at the B-cell Immune Synapse Using Stimulated Emission Depletion STED Microscopy
Published on: April 9, 2018
Microtubules restrict F-actin polymerization to the immune synapse via GEF-H1 to maintain polarity in lymphocytes
Judith Pineau1,2, Léa Pinon1,3,4, Olivier Mesdjian3,4
1Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U932, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Immune synapse formation is a key step for lymphocyte activation. In B lymphocytes, the immune synapse controls the production of high-affinity antibodies, thereby defining the efficiency of humoral immune responses. While the key roles played by both the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons in the formation and function of the immune synapse have become increasingly clear, how the different events involved in synapse formation are coordinated in space and time by actin-microtubule interactions is not understood. Using a microfluidic pairing device, we studied with unprecedented resolution the dynamics of the various events leading to immune synapse formation and maintenance in murine B cells. Our results identify two groups of events, local and global, dominated by actin and microtubules dynamics, respectively. They further highlight an unexpected role for microtubules and the GEF-H1-RhoA axis in restricting F-actin polymerization at the lymphocyte-antigen contact site, thereby allowing the formation and maintenance of a unique competent immune synapse.
More Related Videos
08:35Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Immune Synapse in the Human System Using Imaging Flow Cytometry
Published on: January 7, 2019
09:09Cortical Actin Flow in T Cells Quantified by Spatio-temporal Image Correlation Spectroscopy of Structured Illumination Microscopy Data
Published on: December 17, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
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...
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments
The high-order actin...
Microtubules in Cell Motility
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells