Tapping out a mechanical code for T cell triggering

Abstract

Mechanical forces play increasingly recognized roles in T cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction. Hu and Butte (2016. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201511053) demonstrate that actin is required for T cells to generate forces at the TCR and that exogenous application of force can emulate these cytoskeletal forces and trigger T cell activation.