The synapse revisited: Molecular networks of CD4 T cell-DC interactions.

In adaptive immunity, T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) engage in a tightly coordinated interaction that determines whether immune activation, tolerance, or memory will prevail. At the immunological synapse, co-signalling molecules integrate pathways that direct immune responses. While many of these molecules have been characterised over time, a comprehensive and up-to-date overview is needed to fully appreciate their collective roles. In this review, I revisit the synapse to synthesise established concepts with recent discoveries, highlighting how molecular networks shape CD4 T cell-DC communication in the contexts of infection, cancer, and autoimmunity. By bringing these findings together, I offer a refreshed perspective on the molecular dialogue that underpins immune regulation - a complex network of interactions essential to immune function.