Engineering T cells to enhance 3D migration through structurally and mechanically complex tumor microenvironments

Erdem D. Tabdanov; Nelson J. Rodríguez-Merced; Alexander X. Cartagena-Rivera; Vikram V. Puram; Mackenzie K. Callaway; Ethan A. Ensminger; Emily J. Pomeroy; Kenta Yamamoto; Walker S. Lahr; Beau R. Webber; Branden S. Moriarity; Alexander S. Zhovmer; Paolo P. Provenzano

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-22985-5

Nature Communications (May 2021)

Engineering T cells to enhance 3D migration through structurally and mechanically complex tumor microenvironments

Erdem D. Tabdanov,
Nelson J. Rodríguez-Merced,
Alexander X. Cartagena-Rivera,
Vikram V. Puram,
Mackenzie K. Callaway,
Ethan A. Ensminger,
Emily J. Pomeroy,
Kenta Yamamoto,
Walker S. Lahr,
Beau R. Webber,
Branden S. Moriarity,
Alexander S. Zhovmer,
Paolo P. Provenzano

Affiliations

Erdem D. Tabdanov: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota
Nelson J. Rodríguez-Merced: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota
Alexander X. Cartagena-Rivera: Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health
Vikram V. Puram: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota
Mackenzie K. Callaway: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota
Ethan A. Ensminger: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota
Emily J. Pomeroy: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Kenta Yamamoto: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Walker S. Lahr: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Beau R. Webber: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Branden S. Moriarity: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Alexander S. Zhovmer: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
Paolo P. Provenzano: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22985-5
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 17

Abstract

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The mechanics of the migration of T cells into tumours is an important aspect of tumour immunity. Here the authors engineer complex 3D environments to explore functions of microtubules and cell contractility as strategies to enhance T cell migration in tumour microenvironments.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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