Fig. 7: T cell activation requires ligands with particular dimensions.
From: The interplay between membrane topology and mechanical forces in regulating T cell receptor activity
a TCR triggering is achieved when the interspatial distance between T cells and APCs is around physiological dimensions which is 4 Ig-like domains (~15 nm). Similar results are obtained using artificial APCs expressing membrane-bound anti-CD3 scFv elongated with different tethers. b High-affinity TCR ligands tethered on artificial APCs can trigger TCR signaling independent of their dimensions (left) while low-affinity TCR ligands lose their potency to activate TCR when elongated.
