Figure 1.
The diagram includes a human figure with labeled parts: bone marrow, bloodstream, thymus, spleen/lymph nodes, and peripheral tissues. Each part is associated with a specific stage in the T-cell lifecycle: formation, migration, maturation, activation, and effector function. The diagram also includes a graph showing T-cell lifespan with Young's modulus on the y-axis and different stages of the T-cell lifecycle on the x-axis. The graph indicates varying stiffness levels across different stages. Additionally, there are illustrations of mechanical forces such as shear, rolling, adhesion, diapedesis, traction, compression, and tension affecting T cells. The diagram also includes a bar showing Young's moduli across different cell types, ranging from red blood cells to keratinocytes.
Mechanical environments across T-cell lifespan. T cells originate from the hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, mature in the thymus, and circulate through blood and lymphoid organs before migrating to the peripheral tissues to execute effector functions. Along this journey, they encounter a wide range of mechanical conditions, including tissues with distinct stiffness, confined vascular and lymphatic spaces, and dynamic forces during migration and IS formation, which shape their function. Notably, T cells are among the softest cells in the human body, making them particularly sensitive to mechanical changes across tissues.