A centrally positioned cluster of multiple centrioles in antigen-presenting cells fosters T cell activation
- Isabel Stötzel
- Ann-Kathrin Weier
- Apurba Sarkar
- Subhendu Som
- Luisa Bach
- Peter Konopka
- Eliška Miková
- Shaunak Ghosh
- Jan Böthling
- Mirka Homrich
- Laura Schaedel
- Uli Kazmaier
- Konstantinos Symeonidis
- Stefan Ebner
- Philip Weidner
- Zeinab Abdullah
- Felix Meissner
- Stefan Uderhardt
- Miroslav Hons
- Dirk Baumjohann
- Raja Paul
- Heiko Rieger
- Eva Kiermaier
2026-01-13
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.