Peer-review started: August 5, 2015
First decision: October 13, 2015
Revised: November 24, 2015
Accepted: December 17, 2015
Article in press: December 18, 2015
Published online: March 27, 2016
The classical view of signaling between cells of immune system includes two major routes of intercellular communication: Through the release of extracellular molecules or a direct interaction between membrane bound receptor and its membrane bound ligand, which initiate a cascade of signaling in target cell. However, recent studies indicate that besides these canonical modes of signaling there are also noncanonical routs of intercellular communications through membrane stripping/membrane exchange/trogocytosis, extracellular traps, exosomes and ectososmes/microparticles. In this review we discuss what are the components of noncanonical pathways of signaling and what role they play in immune cells interactions.
Core tip: Noncanonical routes of intercellular communications through membrane stripping, trogocytosis, extracellular traps, microparticles and exosomes and their function in immune response are highlighted.