A centrally positioned cluster of multiple centrioles in antigen-presenting cells fosters T cell activation
Cellular polarization plays a crucial role in regulating immunological processes and is often associated with reorientation of the centrosome. During immune synapse formation, centrosome repositioning in lymphocytes assists in T cell activation. While a single centrosome, consisting of two centrioles, is present in T cells, antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells amplify centrioles during maturation and immune activation. How centriole amplification in antigen-presenting cells affects immune synapse formation and T cell activation is unclear. In this study, we combine experimental data with mathematical and computational modelling to provide evidence that extra centrioles in dendritic cells form over-active microtubule organizing centers, which cluster during dendritic cell-T cell interactions and, unlike in T cells, localize close to the cell center. Perturbing either centrosome integrity or centriole numbers and configuration in dendritic cells results in impaired T cell activation. Collectively, our results highlight a crucial role for centriole amplification and optimal centrosome positioning in antigen-presenting cells for controlling T cell responses.
Authors
- Miroslav Hons (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6625-3348)
- Laura Schaedel
- Eliška Miková (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0829-992X)
- Isabel Stötzel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6326-1409)
- Ann-Kathrin Weier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2700-1102)
- Raja Paul (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7045-8584)
- Shaunak Ghosh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8760-715X)
- Philip Weidner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9482-5155)
- Mirka Homrich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0539-5198)
- Heiko Rieger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0205-3678)
- Subhendu Som (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4724-6000)
- Stefan Ebner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4944-5839)
- Konstantinos Symeonidis
- Luisa Bach (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3476-6325)
- Apurba Sarkar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0792-3089)
- Dirk Baumjohann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8385-8288)
- Peter Konopka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2373-2653)
- Jan Böthling
- Felix Meissner
- Eva Kiermaier
- Uli Kazmaier
- Stefan Uderhardt
- Zeinab Abdullah
Institutions
- University of Bonn (DE)
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IN)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Charles University (CZ)
- University Hospital Bonn (DE)
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen (DE)
- Life & Brain (Germany) (DE)
- Saarland University (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-01-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68286-7
- Primary Topic
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00