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How cytotoxic T cells release their dying targets

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Cytotoxic T cells fight pathogens and cancer by forming stereotyped cytotoxic immune synapses with infected or transformed target cells. We found that architectural changes in apoptotic target cells trigger the dissolution of immune synapses, providing a mechanistic basis for efficient synaptic turnover and serial killing.

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Fig. 1: Cytoskeletal contraction in target cells is sufficient to induce CTL dissociation.

References

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This is a summary of: Sanchez, E. E. et al. Apoptotic contraction drives target cell release by cytotoxic T cells. Nat. Immunol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01572-4 (2023).

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How cytotoxic T cells release their dying targets. Nat Immunol 24, 1413–1414 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01576-0

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