Integrin-Mediated Mechanosensing of Modeled Lymph Node Microenvironment Promotes T Cell Activation via Nuclear Deformation.

ABSTRACT: Upon tumor metastasis, lymph nodes (LNs) undergo mechanical stiffening, yet how this change influences T cell activation within the microenvironment remains incompletely understood. In particular, the dynamic mechanical forces during activation are transduced by cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, while cell-cell interactions persist. Here, we established a novel T cell culture platform using hydrogels with tunable stiffness and decoupled presentation of RGD peptide and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, separately mimicking ECM-T cell and T cell-antigen-presenting cell interactions. This platform closely mimics the LN microenvironment during T cell activation. By integrating experiments with mathematical modeling, we revealed that T cells sensed mechanical changes in the microenviron

SUBMITTER: Feng J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12877341 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature