Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40813858›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

CD4+T-cells create a stable mechanical environment for force-sensitive TCR:pMHC interactions.

Lukas Schrangl, Florian Kellner, René Platzer, Vanessa Mühlgrabner, Paul Hubinger, Josephine Wieland, Reinhard Obst, José L Toca-Herrera, Johannes B Huppa, Gerhard J Schütz and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Lukas SchranglDepartment of Bionanosciences, Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0420-7872
Florian KellnerInstitute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
René PlatzerInstitute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-3399-4721
Vanessa MühlgrabnerInstitute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Paul HubingerInstitute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Josephine WielandInstitute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, München, Germany.
Reinhard ObstInstitute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, München, Germany.
José L Toca-HerreraDepartment of Bionanosciences, Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8951-2616
Johannes B HuppaInstitute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2634-8198
Gerhard J SchützInstitute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1542-1089
Janett GöhringInstitute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. janett.goehring@meduniwien.ac.at.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mechanical forces acting on ligand-engaged T-cell receptors (TCR) have previously been implicated in T-cell antigen recognition and ligand discrimination, yet their magnitude, frequency, and impact remain unclear. Here, we quantitatively assess forces across various TCR:pMHC pairs with different bond lifetimes at single-molecule resolution, both before and during T-cell activation, on platforms that either include or exclude tangential force registration. For this purpose, we use glass-supported lipid bilayers presenting pMHC conjugated to a molecular force sensor unit at its base, adhesion factors and costimulatory molecules to the approaching T-cells. Our results imply that CD4 + T-cell TCRs experience significantly lower forces than previously estimated, with only a small fraction of ligand-engaged TCRs being subjected to these forces during antigen scanning. These rare and minute mechanical forces do not impact the global lifetime distribution of the TCR:ligand bond. We propose that the immunological synapse is created as biophysically stable environment to prevent pulling forces from disturbing antigen recognition.

Indexed as

CD4-Positive T-LymphocytesReceptors, Antigen, T-CellAnimalsHumansImmunological SynapsesLigandsLipid BilayersLymphocyte ActivationMiceLigandsLipid BilayersReceptors, Antigen, T-Cell

Identifiers

PMID40813858
PMCPMC12354883

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.