The signaling pathways underlying T cell clonal expansion induced by trogocytic molting

Abstract

T cells exhibit short, uniformly distributed microvilli under resting conditions. Upon activation with antigenic stimuli, these microvilli elongate, spread, and are subsequently shed from the plasma membrane as T cell immunological synaptosomes (TISs). This process, known as trogocytic molting, is crucial for inducing T cell clonal expansion. In this study, I investigate the mechanisms by which trogocytic molting drives T cell proliferation. My findings demonstrate that microvilli shedding activates the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and calcium signaling, both essential for T cell metabolic reprogramming and proliferation. These results underscore the crucial role of microvilli shedding in T cell activation, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms driving T cell proliferation. They also present potential therapeutic strategies for modulating immune responses, particularly in cancer immunotherapy.