Graciela Cascio, Noa B Martín-Cófreces, José Miguel Rodríguez-Frade, Pilar López-Cotarelo, Gabriel Criado, José L Pablos, José Luis Rodríguez-Fernández, Francisco Sánchez-Madrid, Mario Mellado
The adaptive immune response requires interaction between T cells and APC to form a specialized structure termed the immune synapse (IS). Although the TCR is essential for IS organization, other factors such as chemokines participate in this process. In this study, we show that the chemokine CXCL12-mediated signaling contributes to correct IS organization and therefore influences T cell activation. CXCR4 downregulation or blockade on T cells caused defective actin polymerization at the contact site with APC, altered microtubule-organizing center polarization and the IS structure, and reduced T cell/APC contact duration...
June 1, 2015: Journal of Immunology