T cell adhesion triggers an early signaling pole distal to the immune synapse

Abstract

The immunological synapse forms at the interface between a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell after foreign antigen recognition. The immunological synapse is considered to be the site where the signaling cascade leading to T lymphocyte activation is triggered. Here we show that another signaling region can be detected before at the opposite pole of the T cell. This structure is early, transient and contains all the components classically described at the immunological synapse. Its formation is independent of antigen recognition but is driven by adhesion itself. It constitutes a reservoir of signaling molecules ready to be potentially sent to the immunological synapse through a microtubule-dependent pathway. The antisynapse can thus be considered as a pre-synapse triggered independently of antigen recognition.