Fig. 3: Forces exerted from ICAM-1/LFA-1 engagement.
From: The interplay between membrane topology and mechanical forces in regulating T cell receptor activity
Naïve T cells express LFA-1 in an inactive bent form. Inside out signaling induced upon TCR triggering converts LFA-1 to an open form that can ligate to ICAM-1 on APCs, generating a surface tension of 40 nm intercellular space around engaged pMHC/TCR complexes that span only 15 nm, which provide defined molecular forces around engaged TCRs leading to membrane bending.
