Embracing the Enemy: Cell-to-Cell Force Transmission Enhances Cytotoxicity

Nathan H Roy; Janis K Burkhardt

doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2016.03.007

Embracing the Enemy: Cell-to-Cell Force Transmission Enhances Cytotoxicity

Dev Cell. 2016 Mar 21;36(6):592-4. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2016.03.007.

Authors

Nathan H Roy¹, Janis K Burkhardt²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
² Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: jburkhar@mail.med.upenn.edu.

PMID: 27003932
DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2016.03.007

Abstract

Cells respond to the mechanical properties of their environment, but how biomechanics contributes to intercellular signaling remains unclear. Reporting in Cell, Basu et al. (2016) showed that forces exerted by cytotoxic T lymphocytes enhance the function of the pore-forming protein perforin, thereby leading to more effective target cell killing.

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MeSH terms

Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
Perforin
Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins*
T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Substances

Membrane Glycoproteins
Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
Perforin