Cytotoxic T cells swarm by homotypic chemokine signalling

Date

2020

Authors

Galeano Nino, Jorge
Pageon, Sophie
Tay, Szun
Colakoglu, Feyza
Kempe, Daryan
Hywood, Jack
Mazalo, Jessica
Cremasco, James
Govendir, Matt
Dagley, Laura F

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications Ltd

Abstract

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are thought to arrive at target sites either via random search or following signals by other leukocytes. Here, we reveal independent emergent behaviour in CTL populations attacking tumour masses. Primary murine CTLs coordinate their migration in a process reminiscent of the swarming observed in neutrophils. CTLs engaging cognate targets accelerate the recruitment of distant T cells through long-range homotypic signalling, in part mediated via the diffusion of chemokines CCL3 and CCL4. Newly arriving CTLs augment the chemotactic signal, further accelerating mass recruitment in a positive feedback loop. Activated effector human T cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells similarly employ intra-population signalling to drive rapid convergence. Thus, CTLs recognising a cognate target can induce a localised mass response by amplifying the direct recruitment of additional T cells independently of other leukocytes.

Description

Keywords

Citation

Source

eLife

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

Open Access

License Rights

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Restricted until

Downloads