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Termination of the Activating NK Cell Immunological Synapse Is an Active and Regulated Process

Petra Netter1,2, Moritz Anft1, Carsten Watzl3

  • 1Department of Immunology, IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University Dortmund, 44139 Dortmund, Germany; and.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|August 25, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Natural killer (NK) cells eliminate infected cells via immunological synapses (IS). IS maintenance requires ongoing signaling and actin dynamics, enabling NK cells to detach from old targets and kill new ones efficiently.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cellular cytotoxicity is crucial for eliminating virus-infected and cancerous cells.
  • Natural killer (NK) cells mediate cytotoxicity through direct cell-cell contact, forming an immunological synapse (IS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regulation of immunological synapse (IS) maintenance in NK cell cytotoxicity.
  • To understand the dynamic processes involved in NK cell target engagement and serial killing.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the role of receptor-proximal signaling and actin dynamics in IS stability.
  • Analyzed the kinetics of NK cell detachment from target cells upon engaging new targets.

Main Results:

  • IS maintenance is a highly regulated process requiring continuous receptor-proximal signaling and actin dynamics.
  • Stable IS contact is energy-dependent, even after successful formation.
  • NK cells detach more rapidly from existing targets when initiating contact with new targets.

Conclusions:

  • NK cell IS maintenance is a dynamic, regulated process essential for efficient serial killing.
  • Regulated IS dynamics allow NK cells to sequentially eliminate multiple target cells.

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