Cutting Edge: mechanical forces acting on T cells immobilized via the TCR complex can trigger TCR signaling.
Engagement of the TCR by antigenic peptides presented by the MHC activates specific T cells to control infections. Recent theoretical considerations have suggested that mechanical forces acting on the TCR may be important for receptor triggering. In this study, we directly tested the hypothesis that physical forces acting on the TCR can initiate signaling in T cells by micromanipulation of individual T cells bound to artificial APCs expressing engineered TCR ligands. We find that mechanical forces acting on T cells bound to APCs via the TCR complex but not other surface receptors can initiate signaling in T cells in an Src kinase-dependent fashion. Our data indicate that T cells are mechanically sensitive when coupled to APCs by the TCR and indicates that the TCR may act as a mechanosensor. Our data provide new insight into TCR function.
Li
Ya-Chen
YC
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Bing-Mae
BM
Wu
Pei-Chun
PC
Cheng
Tian-Lu
TL
Kao
Lung-Sen
LS
Tao
Mi-Hua
MH
Lieber
Andre
A
Roffler
Steve R
SR
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell