T cell activation is determined by the number of presented antigens.
Deeg J., Axmann M., Matic J., Liapis A., Depoil D., Afrose J., Curado S., Dustin ML., Spatz JP.
Antigen recognition is a key event during T cell activation. Here, we introduce nanopatterned antigen arrays that mimic the antigen presenting cell surface during T cell activation. The assessment of activation related events revealed the requirement of a minimal density of 90-140 stimulating major histocompatibility complex class II proteins (pMHC) molecules per μm(2). We demonstrate that these substrates induce T cell responses in a pMHC dose-dependent manner and that the number of presented pMHCs dominates over local pMHC density.