Mechanobiology of T cells during early activation as monitored through optical trapping microrheology

The mechanosensitive nature of the TCR-pMHC interaction in T cells has been studied via optical tweezer experiments. From these studies, populations of force responsive T cells (digital cells) that recover activation potential in sparse pMHC environments have been discovered. Through a series of optical tweezer experiments, the distinctions between the digital population and their counterpart T cells will be examined. These include triggering ability at varying pMHC copy numbers and the stiffness changes in the T cell membrane as measured through microrheology.