Traction Force Microscopy of T cells Using Micropillar Arrays

Abstract

The ability to estimate and analyze the mechanical forces applied by T cells to an underlying substrate is a central tool for understanding this complex interface. One powerful approach to gaining this insight is the use of elastomer micropillar arrays as the cell culture substrate; the magnitude and direction of forces applied by T cells can be derived from images of the pillar tips as they are being deflected. This resource provides an example image stack and ImageJ/MATLAB code to carry out analysis. Supplement to: Bashour, K. T., et al. (2014). "CD28 and CD3 have complementary roles in T-cell traction forces." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111(6): 2241-2246