Probing T Cell 3D Mechanosensing With Magnetically-Actuated Structures.

ABSTRACT: The ability of cells to recognize and respond to the mechanical properties of their environment is of increasing importance in T cell physiology. However, initial studies in this direction focused on planar hydrogel and elastomer surfaces, presenting several challenges in interpretation including difficulties in separating mechanical stiffness from changes in chemistry needed to modulate this property. We introduce here the use of magnetic fields to change the structural rigidity of microscale elastomer pillars loaded with superparamagnetic nanoparticles, independent of substrate chemistry. This magnetic modulation of rigidity, embodied as the pillar spring constant, changed the interaction of mouse naïve CD4⁺ T cells from a contractile morphology to one involving deep embedding

SUBMITTER: Sachar C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8458571 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature