Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Visualizing the Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeletons at the B-cell Immune Synapse Using Stimulated Emission Depletion STED Microscopy
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A centrally positioned cluster of multiple centrioles in antigen-presenting cells fosters T cell activation

Isabel Stötzel1, Ann-Kathrin Weier1, Apurba Sarkar2

  • 1Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, Immune and Tumor Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Nature Communications
|January 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Extra centrioles in dendritic cells create microtubule organizing centers that impact T cell activation. Optimal centrosome positioning and centriole numbers in antigen-presenting cells are crucial for controlling T cell responses.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Cellular polarization and centrosome reorientation are vital for immune responses.
  • Centrosome repositioning aids T cell activation during immune synapse formation.
  • T cells have one centrosome, while antigen-presenting cells amplify centrioles during maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of centriole amplification in antigen-presenting cells on immune synapse formation and T cell activation.
  • To understand how extra centrioles in dendritic cells influence T cell responses.

Main Methods:

  • Combined experimental data with mathematical and computational modeling.
  • Studied centrosome integrity, centriole numbers, and configuration in dendritic cells.
  • Analyzed T cell activation and immune synapse formation.

Main Results:

  • Extra centrioles in dendritic cells form over-active microtubule organizing centers that cluster near the cell center during dendritic cell-T cell interactions.
  • Perturbing centrosome integrity or centriole numbers/configuration in dendritic cells impaired T cell activation.
  • Demonstrated that dendritic cell centrosome positioning differs from T cells.

Conclusions:

  • Centriole amplification in antigen-presenting cells generates over-active microtubule organizing centers.
  • Optimal centrosome positioning and centriole numbers in antigen-presenting cells are critical for effective T cell activation and immune response regulation.

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