DNA origami demonstrate the unique stimulatory power of single pMHCs as T cell antigens
Joschka Hellmeier, René Platzer, Alexandra S. Eklund, Thomas Schlichthaerle, Andreas Karner, Viktoria Motsch, Magdalena C. Schneider, Elke Kurz, Victor Bamieh, Mario Brameshuber, Johannes Preiner, Ralf Jungmann, Hannes Stockinger, Gerhard J. Schütz, Johannes B. Huppa, Eva Sevcsik
Abstract
T cells detect with their T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) the presence of rare agonist peptide/MHC complexes (pMHCs) on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). How extracellular ligand binding triggers intracellular signaling is poorly understood, yet spatial antigen arrangement on the APC surface has been suggested to be a critical factor. To examine this, we engineered a biomimetic interface based on laterally mobile functionalized DNA origami platforms, which allow for nanoscale control over ligand distances without interfering with the cell-intrinsic dynamics of receptor clustering. When targeting TCRs via stably binding monovalent antibody fragments, we found the minimum signaling unit promoting efficient T cell activation to consist of two antibody-ligated TCRs within a distance of 20 nm. In contrast, transiently engaging antigenic pMHCs stimulated T cells robustly as well-isolated entities. These results identify pairs of antibody-bound TCRs as minimal receptor entities for effective TCR triggering yet validate the exceptional stimulatory potency of single isolated pMHC molecules.