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Cytoskeletal actin dynamics is essential for T cell activation. Here, we show evidence that the binding kinetics of the antigen engaging the T cell receptor influences the nanoscale actin organization and mechanics of the immune synapse. Using an engineered T cell system expressing a specific T cell receptor and stimulated by a range of antigens, we found that the peak force experienced by the T cell receptor during activation was independent of the unbinding kinetics of the stimulating antigen. Conversely, quantification of the actin retrograde flow velocity at the synapse revealed a striking dependence on the antigen unbinding kinetics. These findings suggest that the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton actively adjusted to normalize the force experienced by the T cell receptor in an antigen-specific manner. Consequently, tuning actin dynamics in response to antigen kinetics may thus be a mechanism that allows T cells to adjust the lengthscale and timescale of T cell receptor signaling.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.celrep.2019.02.074

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cell Rep

Publication Date

19/03/2019

Volume

26

Pages

3369 - 3379.e5

Keywords

T cell activation, TCR cluster, TFM, actin dynamics, immunological synapse, mechanosensation, mechanosensitivity, Actin Cytoskeleton, Humans, Jurkat Cells, Lymphocyte Activation, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Signal Transduction, T-Lymphocytes