How do T cells sense the mechanical properties of their environment?
Mechanical forces play critical roles in physiology, directing molecular activation to human health. Our group provided some of the initial studies that T cells can sense the stiffness of cell culture surfaces, mimicking the phenomenon of matrix mechanosensing observed in adherent cell types, but in an entirely different molecular setting. In particular, T cells can exert force on their surroundings without engagement of integrin receptors, using instead the TCR/CD3 complex for force generation. Current studies seek to understand the 3-dimensional nature of the T cell - antigen presenting cell interaction, and how forces can serve to coordinate this communication.
