Scientists find immune cells sense tissue stiffness to form lasting memory

Scientists at McGill University have uncovered a new ability of immune cells to sense the stiffness of their surrounding tissues, according to ScienceDaily Health.

This discovery challenges the previous belief that tissue-resident memory T cells were guided mainly by chemical signals, showing instead that these cells use physical signals to decide whether to develop into long-lasting memory cells that protect against future infections.

The research, published in Nature Immunology, suggests that adapting to the mechanical forces within tissues is important for the survival of these protective immune cells over time.

Lead author Judith Mandl from McGill's Department of Physiology highlighted that this finding changes how scientists understand immune cell behavior by showing that T cells can 'feel' and respond to their physical environment.

The study involved collaboration among multiple departments at McGill University and institutions in the Netherlands and the United States.

Understanding how T cells respond to physical conditions could lead to new treatments for diseases where the immune system attacks healthy tissue, such as autoimmune disorders, allergies, and transplant rejection complications.