Abstract

The onset and regulation of a specific immune response results from communication between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which form molecular interactions at the site of cell–cell contact — and this is known as the immunological synapse. Initially, the immunological synapse was viewed as a stereotypical adhesion and signalling device with a defined molecular structure and signalling processes. However, as we discuss here, T-cell–APC interactions comprise a diverse range of contact modes and distinct molecular arrangements. These diverse interaction modes might define a molecular code, in which the differences in timing, spacing and molecular composition of the signalling platform determine the outcome of T-cell–APC interactions.

Author affiliations

1. Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine and Department of Dermatology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany.
2. German Research Centre for Biotechnology, Braunschweig 38124, Germany.

Correspondence to: Peter Friedl¹ Email: peter.fr@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de

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