Immune synapse formation determines interaction forces between T cells and antigen-presenting cells measured by atomic force microscopy.

ABSTRACT: During adaptive immune responses, T lymphocytes recognize antigenic peptides presented by MHC molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This recognition results in the formation of a so-called immune synapse (IS) at the T-cell/APC interface, which is crucial for T-cell activation. The molecular composition of the IS has been extensively studied, but little is known about the biophysics and interaction forces between T cells and APCs. Here, we report the measurement of interaction forces between T cells and APCs employing atomic force microscopy (AFM). For these investigations, specific T cells were selected that recognize an antigenic peptide presented by MHC-class II molecules on APCs. Dynamic analysis of T-cell/APC interaction by AFM revealed that in the presence of antigen interacti

SUBMITTER: Hosseini BH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2764924 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature