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Title: T cell activation and immune synapse organization respond to the microscale mechanics of structured surfaces

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [2];  [1]
  1. Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)
  2. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY (United States). Immunology Program
  3. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
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Cells have the remarkable ability to sense the mechanical stiffness of their surroundings. This has been studied extensively in the context of cells interacting with planar surfaces, a conceptually elegant model that also has application in biomaterial design. However, physiological interfaces are spatially complex, exhibiting topographical features that are described over multiple scales. This report explores mechanosensing of microstructured elastomer surfaces by CD4+T cells, key mediators of the adaptive immune response. We show that T cells form complex interactions with elastomer micropillar arrays, extending processes into spaces between structures and forming local areas of contraction and expansion dictated by the layout of microtubules within this interface. Conversely, cytoskeletal reorganization and intracellular signaling are sensitive to the pillar dimensions and flexibility. Unexpectedly, these measures show different responses to substrate rigidity, suggesting competing processes in overall T cell mechanosensing. The results of this study demonstrate that T cells sense the local rigidity of their environment, leading to strategies for biomaterial design.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1562313
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1606184
Report Number(s):
BNL-213752-2020-JAAM
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 116, Issue 40; ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher:
National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 47 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Mechanotransduction in T Cell Development, Differentiation and Function journal February 2020

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77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
mechanobiology
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microstructure