“…These signaling cascades results in the activation of a series of transcription factors, most notably AP-1, NFAT and NFκB, which lead to the regulation of effector molecules, such as cytokines and chemokines, and the stimulation of cell division. Infectious and virological synapse formation stimulates similar signaling cascades with the important exception that the signaling cascades are antigen-independent (Deng et al, 2016;Hioe et al, 2011;Len et al, 2017;Readinger et al, 2008;Schiralli Lester et al, 2013;Sol-Foulon et al, 2007;Strasner et al, 2008;Vasiliver-Shamis et al, 2009). The strength and outcome of the signaling cascades stimulated during infectious and virological synapse formation on HIV-1 replication is less clear, but recent work by the Jolly laboratory suggests that virological synapses between T cells generate TCR/CD28 signaling cascades in an antigen-independent fashion and that these cascades are important for efficient viral spread (Len et al, 2017).…”