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Rogers J, Bajur AT, Salaita K, Spillane KM. Mechanical control of antigen detection and discrimination by T and B cell receptors. Biophys J 2024:S0006-3495(24)00347-3. [PMID: 38794795 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The adaptive immune response is orchestrated by just two cell types, T cells and B cells. Both cells possess the remarkable ability to recognize virtually any antigen through their respective antigen receptors-the T cell receptor (TCR) and B cell receptor (BCR). Despite extensive investigations into the biochemical signaling events triggered by antigen recognition in these cells, our ability to predict or control the outcome of T and B cell activation remains elusive. This challenge is compounded by the sensitivity of T and B cells to the biophysical properties of antigens and the cells presenting them-a phenomenon we are just beginning to understand. Recent insights underscore the central role of mechanical forces in this process, governing the conformation, signaling activity, and spatial organization of TCRs and BCRs within the cell membrane, ultimately eliciting distinct cellular responses. Traditionally, T cells and B cells have been studied independently, with researchers working in parallel to decipher the mechanisms of activation. While these investigations have unveiled many overlaps in how these cell types sense and respond to antigens, notable differences exist. To fully grasp their biology and harness it for therapeutic purposes, these distinctions must be considered. This review compares and contrasts the TCR and BCR, placing emphasis on the role of mechanical force in regulating the activity of both receptors to shape cellular and humoral adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhordan Rogers
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Anna T Bajur
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Khalid Salaita
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Katelyn M Spillane
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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2
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Abstract
T cell activation is initiated by the recognition of specific antigenic peptides and subsequently accomplished by complex signaling cascades. These aspects have been extensively studied for decades as pivotal factors in the establishment of adaptive immunity. However, how receptors or signaling molecules are organized in the resting state prior to encountering antigens has received less attention. Recent advancements in super-resolution microscopy techniques have revealed topographically controlled pre-formed organization of key molecules involved in antigen recognition and signal transduction on microvillar projections of T cells before activation and substantial effort has been dedicated to characterizing the topological structure of resting T cells over the past decade. This review will summarize our current understanding of how key surface receptors are pre-organized on the T-cell plasma membrane and discuss the potential role of these receptors, which are preassembled prior to ligand binding in the early activation events of T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunmin Jung
- Department of Nano-Biomedical Engineering, Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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3
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Ayres CM, Corcelli SA, Baker BM. The Energetic Landscape of Catch Bonds in TCR Interfaces. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:325-332. [PMID: 37459192 PMCID: PMC10361606 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Recognition of peptide/MHC complexes by αβ TCRs has traditionally been viewed through the lens of conventional receptor-ligand theory. Recent work, however, has shown that TCR recognition and T cell signaling can be profoundly influenced and tuned by mechanical forces. One outcome of applied force is the catch bond, where TCR dissociation rates decrease (half-lives increase) when limited force is applied. Although catch bond behavior is believed to be widespread in biology, its counterintuitive nature coupled with the difficulties of describing mechanisms at the structural level have resulted in considerable mystique. In this review, we demonstrate that viewing catch bonds through the lens of energy landscapes, barriers, and the ensuing reaction rates can help demystify catch bonding and provide a foundation on which atomic-level TCR catch bond mechanisms can be built.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory M Ayres
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
- The Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
| | - Steve A Corcelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
- The Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
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Morgan J, Pettmann J, Dushek O, Lindsay AE. T cell microvilli simulations show operation near packing limit and impact on antigen recognition. Biophys J 2022; 121:4128-4136. [PMID: 36181267 PMCID: PMC9675027 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are immune cells that continuously scan for foreign-derived antigens on the surfaces of nearly all cells, termed antigen-presenting cells (APCs). They do this by dynamically extending numerous protrusions called microvilli (MVs) that contain T cell receptors toward the APC surface in order to scan for antigens. The number, size, and dynamics of these MVs, and the complex multiscale topography that results, play a yet unknown role in antigen recognition. We develop an anatomically informed model that confines antigen recognition to small areas representing MVs that can dynamically form and dissolve and use the model to study how MV dynamics impact antigen sensitivity and discrimination. We find that MV surveillance reduces antigen sensitivity compared with a completely flat interface, unless MV are stabilized in an antigen-dependent manner, and observe that MVs have only a modest impact on antigen discrimination. The model highlights that MV contacts optimize the competing demands of fast scanning speeds of the APC surface with antigen sensitivity. Our model predicts an interface packing fraction that corresponds closely to those observed experimentally, indicating that T cells operate their MVs near the limits imposed by anatomical and geometric constraints. Finally, we find that observed MV contact lifetimes can be largely influenced by conditions in the T cell/APC interface, with these lifetimes often being longer than the simulation or experimental observation period. This work highlights the role of MVs in antigen recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Morgan
- Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Johannes Pettmann
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Omer Dushek
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alan E Lindsay
- Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.
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Göhring J, Schrangl L, Schütz GJ, Huppa JB. Mechanosurveillance: Tiptoeing T Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:886328. [PMID: 35693808 PMCID: PMC9178122 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.886328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient scanning of tissue that T cells encounter during their migratory life is pivotal to protective adaptive immunity. In fact, T cells can detect even a single antigenic peptide/MHC complex (pMHC) among thousands of structurally similar yet non-stimulatory endogenous pMHCs on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) or target cells. Of note, the glycocalyx of target cells, being composed of proteoglycans and bulky proteins, is bound to affect and even modulate antigen recognition by posing as a physical barrier. T cell-resident microvilli are actin-rich membrane protrusions that puncture through such barriers and thereby actively place the considerably smaller T-cell antigen receptors (TCRs) in close enough proximity to APC-presented pMHCs so that productive interactions may occur efficiently yet under force. We here review our current understanding of how the plasticity of T-cell microvilli and physicochemical properties of the glycocalyx may affect early events in T-cell activation. We assess insights gained from studies on T-cell plasma membrane ultrastructure and provide an update on current efforts to integrate biophysical aspects such as the amplitude and directionality of TCR-imposed mechanical forces and the distribution and lateral mobility of plasma membrane-resident signaling molecules into a more comprehensive view on sensitized T-cell antigen recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janett Göhring
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Janett Göhring,
| | | | | | - Johannes B. Huppa
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Barbieri L, Colin-York H, Korobchevskaya K, Li D, Wolfson DL, Karedla N, Schneider F, Ahluwalia BS, Seternes T, Dalmo RA, Dustin ML, Li D, Fritzsche M. Two-dimensional TIRF-SIM-traction force microscopy (2D TIRF-SIM-TFM). Nat Commun 2021; 12:2169. [PMID: 33846317 PMCID: PMC8041833 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22377-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying small, rapidly evolving forces generated by cells is a major challenge for the understanding of biomechanics and mechanobiology in health and disease. Traction force microscopy remains one of the most broadly applied force probing technologies but typically restricts itself to slow events over seconds and micron-scale displacements. Here, we improve >2-fold spatially and >10-fold temporally the resolution of planar cellular force probing compared to its related conventional modalities by combining fast two-dimensional total internal reflection fluorescence super-resolution structured illumination microscopy and traction force microscopy. This live-cell 2D TIRF-SIM-TFM methodology offers a combination of spatio-temporal resolution enhancement relevant to forces on the nano- and sub-second scales, opening up new aspects of mechanobiology to analysis.
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Grants
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- 212343/Z/18/Z Wellcome Trust
- 107457 Wellcome Trust
- 100262/Z/12/Z Wellcome Trust
- Wellcome Trust
- 091911 Wellcome Trust
- Medical Research Council
- L.B. would like to acknowledge funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Medical Research Council (EP/L016052/1). M.F., H.C.Y., K.K., and M.L.D. would like to thank the Rosalind Franklin Institute and the Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research (KTRR) for support. M.F., F.S., and H.C.Y. thank the Wellcome Trust (212343/Z/18/Z) and EPSRC (EP/S004459/1). M.L.D. also thank the Wellcome Trust for the Principal Research Fellowship awarded to M.D. (100262/Z/12/Z). Di.L. and D.L. are supported by a grant from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST: 2017YFA0505301, 2016YFA0500203), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC; 91754202, 31827802), and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 2020094). N.K. thanks the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for funding his Feoder Lynen Fellowship. R.A.D acknowledge the Research Council of Norway (grant no. 301401) for funding. The TIRF-SIM platform was built in collaboration with and with funds from Micron (www.micronoxford.com), an Oxford-wide advanced microscopy technology consortium supported by Wellcome Strategic Awards (091911 and 107457) and an MRC/EPSRC/BBSRC next generation imaging award.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Barbieri
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Huw Colin-York
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Di Li
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Deanna L Wolfson
- Department of Physics and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Narain Karedla
- Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Rosalind Franklin Institute, Didcot, UK
| | - Falk Schneider
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Balpreet S Ahluwalia
- Department of Physics and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Tore Seternes
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Roy A Dalmo
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dong Li
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Marco Fritzsche
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Rosalind Franklin Institute, Didcot, UK.
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7
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Moreau HD, Lennon-Duménil AM, Pierobon P. “If you please… draw me a cell”. Insights from immune cells. J Cell Sci 2020; 133:133/5/jcs244806. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.244806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Studies in recent years have shed light on the particular features of cytoskeleton dynamics in immune cells, challenging the classical picture drawn from typical adherent cell lines. New mechanisms linking the dynamics of the membrane–cytoskeleton interface to the mechanical properties of immune cells have been uncovered and shown to be essential for immune surveillance functions. In this Essay, we discuss these features, and propose immune cells as a new playground for cell biologists who try to understand how cells adapt to different microenvironments to fulfil their functions efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène D. Moreau
- INSERM U932, Institut Curie, ANR-10-IDEX-0001-02 PSL and ANR-11-LABX-0043, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris, Cedex 05, France
| | - Ana-Maria Lennon-Duménil
- INSERM U932, Institut Curie, ANR-10-IDEX-0001-02 PSL and ANR-11-LABX-0043, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris, Cedex 05, France
| | - Paolo Pierobon
- INSERM U932, Institut Curie, ANR-10-IDEX-0001-02 PSL and ANR-11-LABX-0043, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris, Cedex 05, France
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Blumenthal D, Burkhardt JK. Multiple actin networks coordinate mechanotransduction at the immunological synapse. J Cell Biol 2020; 219:e201911058. [PMID: 31977034 PMCID: PMC7041673 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201911058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of naive T cells by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) is an essential step in mounting an adaptive immune response. It is known that antigen recognition and T cell receptor (TCR) signaling depend on forces applied by the T cell actin cytoskeleton, but until recently, the underlying mechanisms have been poorly defined. Here, we review recent advances in the field, which show that specific actin-dependent structures contribute to the process in distinct ways. In essence, T cell priming involves a tug-of-war between the cytoskeletons of the T cell and the APC, where the actin cytoskeleton serves as a mechanical intermediate that integrates force-dependent signals. We consider each of the relevant actin-rich T cell structures separately and address how they work together at the topologically and temporally complex cell-cell interface. In addition, we address how this mechanobiology can be incorporated into canonical immunological models to improve how these models explain T cell sensitivity and antigenic specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janis K. Burkhardt
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis E. Discher
- Molecular & Cell Biophysics Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104,*Address correspondence to: Dennis E. Discher ()
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