Antigen mobility regulates the dynamics and precision of antigen capture in the B cell immune synapse.

ABSTRACT: B cells discriminate antigens in immune synapses by capturing them from antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This discrimination relies on the application of mechanical force to B cell receptor (BCR)-antigen bonds, allowing B cells to selectively disrupt low-affinity interactions while internalizing high-affinity antigens. Using DNA-based tension sensors combined with high-resolution imaging, we demonstrate that the magnitude, location, and timing of forces within the immune synapse are influenced by the fluidity of the antigen-presenting membrane. Transitioning antigens from a high-mobility to a low-mobility substrate significantly increases the probability and speed of antigen extraction while also improving affinity discrimination. This shift in antigen mobility also reshapes the synapse ar

SUBMITTER: McArthur HCW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12107191 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature