Immunological synapses: breaking up may be good to do

Abstract

Activated T cells form stable immunological synapses with antigen-presenting cells whereas naïve T cells initially engage in more transient interactions. Sims et al. (2007) demonstrate that these transient interactions are due to the kinase PKCtheta, which serves to destabilize the synapse thereby permitting T cells to migrate elsewhere. They also show that re-establishment of a synapse involves the actin regulator WASp.