Intercellular exchanges of membrane patches (trogocytosis) highlight the next level of immune plasticity

Although they have been evidenced a long time ago, exchanges of antigens between cells have remained poorly understood and their significance is still unclear. Yet, intercellular antigen exchanges, and most particularly intercellular exchanges of intact membrane patches, also called trogocytosis, have recently been the subject of renewed interest. We here briefly outline the key findings concerning trogocytosis, and discuss their implications. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.