Mechanosensing in T lymphocyte activation.

Journal article

Mechanical forces play an increasingly recognized role in modulating cell function. This report demonstrates mechanosensing by T cells, using polyacrylamide gels presenting ligands to CD3 and CD28. Naive CD4 T cells exhibited stronger activation, as measured by attachment and secretion of IL-2, with increasing substrate elastic modulus over the range of 10-200 kPa. By presenting these ligands on different surfaces, this report further demonstrates that mechanosensing is more strongly associated with CD3 rather than CD28 signaling. Finally, phospho-specific staining for Zap70 and Src family kinase proteins suggests that sensing of substrate rigidity occurs at least in part by processes downstream of T-cell receptor activation. The ability of T cells to quantitatively respond to substrate rigidly provides an intriguing new model for mechanobiology.

Authors: Judokusumo, E; Tabdanov, E; Kumari, S; Dustin, M; Kam, L

• Journal: Biophysical journal
• Volume: 102
• Issue: 2
• Pages: L5-L7
• Publication date: 2012-01-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.12.011
• EISSN: 1542-0086
• ISSN: 0006-3495
• Language: English
• Keywords: Animals; Antigens, CD3; Biomechanical Phenomena; Antibodies; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Mice; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Mechanical Processes; Antigens, CD28; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Acrylic Resins