La sinapsis inmunológica
- Reyes Martín, Eduardo
- Prieto Martín, Alfredo
- Monserrat Sanz, Jorge
- Álvarez de Mon Soto, Melchor
ISSN: 0304-5412
Year of publication: 2013
Issue Title: Enfermedades del sistema inmune (I): fundamentos fisiológicos
Series: 11
Issue: 28
Pages: 1737-1741
Type: Article
More publications in: Medicine: Programa de Formación Médica Continuada Acreditado
Abstract
The various cell components must be able to communicate with each other. To initiate the immune response, regulate its intensity and signal an the end of the response, the cell components must be able to coordinate with each other. Communication between the immune system cells and immunocompetent cells is conducted through soluble factors and through communication by cell-cell contact. As with neurons, the synapse consists of the small space between two cells that are interacting. Similarly, the immunological synapse is formed by two immunocompetent cells or by an effector cell and its target. There is considerable variety in immunological synapses, among which are those formed by T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC) (dendritic or B cell), CD8+ T cells and their target cells and NK and NKT cells and their target cells.