Les liaisons dangereuses: immunological synapse formation in animals and plants

Trends Immunol. 2008 Apr;29(4):159-66. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2008.01.004. Epub 2008 Mar 5.

Abstract

The immunological synapse in vertebrates describes a specialized junction between a T cell and a target cell, enabling execution of immune responses through focal secretion. Recent insights in the plant immune system suggest that plant cells assemble a pathogen-inducible machinery at the cell surface that shares several features with the immunological synapse. Apparent mechanistic commonalities include co-stimulatory non-self alarm signals as triggers, cell polarization driven by actin cytoskeleton remodeling, protein concentration into ring-shaped assemblies at the cell periphery and focal exocytosis mediated by soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins that are core factors for vesicle fusion. Although in plants, execution of immune responses by polar secretion seems to be a cell type-independent property, its confinement to T cells in the vertebrate immune system might reflect a greater division of labor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Polarity
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Intercellular Junctions / immunology*
  • Intercellular Junctions / metabolism
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex / immunology
  • Plants / immunology*
  • Plants / ultrastructure
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • SNARE Proteins / metabolism
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Qa-SNARE Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • SNARE Proteins
  • Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Proteins
  • Serine Endopeptidases