About this Research Topic
Lymphocytes are central mediators of cellular immunity. Underlying their immune function are fascinating cell biological processes that allows them to migrate throughout the body scanning for presence of disease signatures (antigen), to rapidly deaccelerate when antigen is found and establish a specialized cell-cell interface termed immunological synapse. At the synapse the antigen receptors in lymphocytes rapidly and accurately recognize and transduce antigenic information. While the lymphocyte migratory habits are permitted by highly dynamic cytoskeleton, work in recent decades shows that cytoskeleton also supports the immunological synapse as well as antigen scanning and receptor signaling via the synapse. How cell migration, antigen receptor signaling and cytoskeletal dynamics be coordinated at mechanistic level to allow full blown lymphocyte immune response remains far from clear. We aim to delve deeper into this question by inviting the papers that explore the interplay of antigen receptor signaling and cytoskeletal regulation.
In the Research Topic, our goal is to include any conceptual, mechanistic or technical advances that increase our understanding of antigen receptor signaling and its collaboration with the cytoskeleton in lymphocytes at molecular, cellular, or tissue level. We will welcome studies characterizing molecular regulators of antigen receptor signaling pathways which could also assist cytoskeletal remodeling during lymphocyte activation. Conversely, we look forward to studies that explore how actin organization and dynamics in space and time could co-ordinate scanning, sensing and transduction of antigen information in molecular terms. We also hope to uncover some of the mechanical underpinnings of cytoskeleton-signaling cross-talk in lymphocytes, and how it may regulate lymphocyte morphodynamics and motility, eventually contributing to an optimal immune response. Diseases arising due to defects in molecular mediators of antigen receptor-cytoskeletal regulation are also of special interest. Finally, studies generating insights towards principles for rational design for therapies to modulate lymphocyte function in such disease contexts will be most welcome.
Specific subtopic for this Research Topic include:
• Molecular and cellular level mechanisms of antigen receptor signaling and their link with the cytoskeleton.
• The role of cytoskeletal regulatory proteins in lymphocyte activation
• Lymphocyte morphology and dynamics driving immune response
• Cytoskeletal regulation of immunological synapse organization
• Origin and role of cytoskeletal forces in lymphocyte activation
• Potentiation of antigen receptor signaling using cytoskeletal manipulation
In the Research Topic, our goal is to include any conceptual, mechanistic or technical advances that increase our understanding of antigen receptor signaling and its collaboration with the cytoskeleton in lymphocytes at molecular, cellular, or tissue level. We will welcome studies characterizing molecular regulators of antigen receptor signaling pathways which could also assist cytoskeletal remodeling during lymphocyte activation. Conversely, we look forward to studies that explore how actin organization and dynamics in space and time could co-ordinate scanning, sensing and transduction of antigen information in molecular terms. We also hope to uncover some of the mechanical underpinnings of cytoskeleton-signaling cross-talk in lymphocytes, and how it may regulate lymphocyte morphodynamics and motility, eventually contributing to an optimal immune response. Diseases arising due to defects in molecular mediators of antigen receptor-cytoskeletal regulation are also of special interest. Finally, studies generating insights towards principles for rational design for therapies to modulate lymphocyte function in such disease contexts will be most welcome.
Specific subtopic for this Research Topic include:
• Molecular and cellular level mechanisms of antigen receptor signaling and their link with the cytoskeleton.
• The role of cytoskeletal regulatory proteins in lymphocyte activation
• Lymphocyte morphology and dynamics driving immune response
• Cytoskeletal regulation of immunological synapse organization
• Origin and role of cytoskeletal forces in lymphocyte activation
• Potentiation of antigen receptor signaling using cytoskeletal manipulation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
