with assembly of an immature immunological synapse

Abstract We report differences in the supramolecular organization of the immunological synapse (IS) formed by resting and anergic human T cells with agonist-peptide loaded antigen-presenting cells (APC). T cells reactive to influenza A haemagglutinin peptide or Fel d 1 peptide 4 were rendered both anergic and regulatory by incubation with high doses of agonist peptide in the absence of APC. At the IS between resting T cells and peptide-loaded APC, both CD3e and CD3ζ initially accumulate within a ring or arc before redistributing within 30 min to single or multiple foci more central to the contact. In contrast, at synapses formed by anergized T cells, CD3e and CD3ζ remained organized within an arc or ring and failed to redistribute centrally. However, intercellular communication between anergic human T cells and agonist-peptide loaded APC was not a null event, since it triggered secretion of T cell IFN-γ, but not for example IL-2. Thus, distinct organizations of CD3 at the T cell IS correlate with different cytokine profiles; the mature IS formed by resting T cells correlates with their production of both IFN-γ and IL-2 whereas the immature IS formed by anergic T cells seems able to facilitate IFN-γ but not IL-2 production. From bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org by guest on June 8, 2013. For personal use only.