T cell–dendritic cell immunological synapses

Dendritic cells (DCs) are myeloid lineage cells that are imprinted by their environment and that mature in response to microbial products. A crucial role of the DC is to impart this context-specific information to T cells as well as to present self and foreign MHC–peptide complexes through formation of an immunological synapse. The structure of the T cell–DC immunological synapse departs from the canonical structure formed with B cells or with supported planar bilayers in that it has multiple foci of T-cell receptor interactions rather than a central focus. Recent studies on model systems provide insight into the mechanisms and biological consequences of the unique T cell–DC synaptic patterns.