Study on the role of microtubules on T cell migration under confined environments

Abstract

Purpose Migration of T cells is critical for immune surveillance and immune responses. Microtubule is the largest cytoskeleton and it is highly related with cell migration, but the role of microtubule on T cell migration under confined environments, which is an emergent property of interstitial spaces in vivo for leukocyte migration, has not been studied.

Methods In this study, we first fabricated two different types of microchannels, wide microchannels (WMCs) that only confines T cells in vertical direction, and narrow microchannels (NMCs) that confines T cells in both vertical and horizontal directions. Then, morphology, velocity, and directional persistence of T cells in the different confined conditions were quantitatively analyzed. In addition, pharmacological inhibitors modulating microtubule stability were used to assess the roles of microtubule dynamics on T cell migration under confinement.

Results T cells within microchannels were tightly confined, exhibiting flattened or elongated morphologies depending on whether they were in WMCs or NMCs. Velocity and directional persistent of T cells increased as the degree of confinement increased. In addition, Taxol-treatment significantly reduced directional persistence of T cells under confined environments. Conclusions Dynamics of microtubule played an important role in the directional persistency of T cells in confined environments.