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Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

Published on: December 26, 2019

Lipid switches in the immunological synapse.

Gillian Griffiths¹, Britta Brügger², Christian Freund³

¹Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge, UK.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry

|June 1, 2024

Summary

T cells use lipid switches, phosphoinositides and palmitoylation, to regulate protein distribution and function during adaptive immune responses. These molecular switches are crucial for T cell activation, affecting cell motility, transport, secretion, and gene expression.

Keywords:

DHHC enzymes S-acylation T cell immunological synapse palmitoylation phosphoinositides

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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

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Published on: December 26, 2019

Supported Planar Bilayers for the Formation of Study of Immunological Synapses and Kinapse

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An Endothelial Planar Cell Model for Imaging Immunological Synapse Dynamics

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Published on: December 24, 2015

Area of Science:

Immunology
Cell Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Adaptive immune responses involve T cell activation via peptide-Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) interactions.
T cell activation leads to the formation of an immunological synapse and altered intracellular signaling.
Membrane lipid modifications play a key role in regulating protein function during T cell activation.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe two major classes of lipid switches involved in T cell activation.
To elucidate the roles of phosphoinositides and palmitoylation in T cell signaling.
To explain how these lipid modifications impact T cell function.

Main Methods:

Review and description of phosphoinositide metabolism and function.
Review and description of palmitoylation and its catalyzing DHHC enzymes.
Analysis of the impact of these lipid modifications on T cell signaling and function.

Main Results:

Phosphoinositides act as signaling molecules, defining the properties of signaling complexes and organelles.
Palmitoylation, catalyzed by DHHC enzymes, alters protein distribution at cellular membranes.
Both lipid switches are utilized by T cells to modulate properties essential for activation.

Conclusions:

Phosphoinositides and palmitoylation are critical lipid switches in T cell activation.
These modifications dynamically regulate protein localization and signaling at the membrane interface.
Understanding these lipid switches provides insight into T cell function and adaptive immunity.