Nanoconfinement of microvilli alters gene expression and boosts T cell activation.

ABSTRACT: T cells sense and respond to their local environment at the nanoscale by forming small actin-rich protrusions, called microvilli, which play critical roles in signaling and antigen recognition, particularly at the interface with the antigen presenting cells. However, the mechanism by which microvilli contribute to cell signaling and activation is largely unknown. Here, we present a tunable engineered system that promotes microvilli formation and T cell signaling via physical stimuli. We discovered that nanoporous surfaces favored microvilli formation and markedly altered gene expression in T cells and promoted their activation. Mechanistically, confinement of microvilli inside of nanopores leads to size-dependent sorting of membrane-anchored proteins, specifically segregating CD45 phosphat

SUBMITTER: Aramesh M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8501847 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature