Formin-generated actomyosin arcs propel T cell receptor microcluster movement at the immune synapse

J Cell Biol. 2016 Nov 7;215(3):383-399. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201603080. Epub 2016 Oct 31.

Abstract

Actin assembly and inward flow in the plane of the immunological synapse (IS) drives the centralization of T cell receptor microclusters (TCR MCs) and the integrin leukocyte functional antigen 1 (LFA-1). Using structured-illumination microscopy (SIM), we show that actin arcs populating the medial, lamella-like region of the IS arise from linear actin filaments generated by one or more formins present at the IS distal edge. After traversing the outer, Arp2/3-generated, lamellipodia-like region of the IS, these linear filaments are organized by myosin II into antiparallel concentric arcs. Three-dimensional SIM shows that active LFA-1 often aligns with arcs, whereas TCR MCs commonly reside between arcs, and total internal reflection fluorescence SIM shows TCR MCs being swept inward by arcs. Consistently, disrupting actin arc formation via formin inhibition results in less centralized TCR MCs, missegregated integrin clusters, decreased T-B cell adhesion, and diminished TCR signaling. Together, our results define the origin, organization, and functional significance of a major actomyosin contractile structure at the IS that directly propels TCR MC transport.

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex / metabolism
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Actomyosin / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Aggregation
  • Cell Movement*
  • Fetal Proteins
  • Fluorescence
  • Formins
  • Humans
  • Immunological Synapses / metabolism*
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Microscopy
  • Myosin Type II / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex
  • Actins
  • Fetal Proteins
  • Formins
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Actomyosin
  • Myosin Type II