Stenocytosis : a mechanism for supramolecular attack particle transfer at the CTL lytic synapse

Supramolecular attack particles (SMAPs) are recently discovered key components of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) lytic arsenal exhibiting autonomous cytotoxic behavior. Yet, how these particles might serve as synaptic weapons transferred from CTL into target cells within dynamic lytic synapses remains to be elucidated.

In CTL interacting with immobilized stimuli, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) and rapid live 3D cell imaging showed that granules containing SMAPs navigate through narrow cortical actin cytoskeleton depletion areas to reach plasma membrane secretion hot-spots where SMAPs are released. In CTLs interacting with cognate target cells, correlative light-electron microscopy (CLEM) and structured illumination 3D imaging showed SMAP release into the synaptic cleft and penetration into the target cell trough an equally narrow gap in the target cell cortical actin cytoskeleton mirroring that formed in the CTL cytoskeleton, and just large enough to admit the SMAP into an early endosome.

Our results reveal a previously undescribed process, stenocytosis (from the ancient Greek στενός, “narrow”), which allows hundred-nanometer-scale lytic particles to exit CTLs and enter target cells while evading synaptic defenses.