Work

Data from: Antibody Fc receptor CD16a mediates natural killer cell activation via mechanotransduction of piconewton forces

Year: 2026

Type: dataset

Abstract: Natural Killer (NK) cells eliminate target cells through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), initiated by CD16a (FcγRIIIa) recognizing the Fc region of antibodies bound to the target cell surface. While the recognition is considered to be driven by CD16a-Fc binding avidity, it fails to explain why Fc multimers inhibit ADCC rather than trigger it. Here, we reveal that CD16a transduces piconewton forces, and acts as a mechanosensor to facilitate NK activation. We demonstrate that CD16a force and the actin foci formation associated with it are essential for the phosphorylation of mechanosensitive adaptor Cas-L and signaling adaptor LAT, reshaping NK cell cytoskeletal dynamics and signaling. Our findings show that NK activation is an intricate process that integrates both biochemical and biophysical information, and provides new mechanistic insight for immunoengineering.

Source: DRYAD

DOI: 10.5061/dryad.7pvmcvf7x

Authors: Ma, Rong, Garcia, Kenan, Cui, Bianxiao, Covert, Markus

Institutions: Stanford University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Language: English

Topic: Immune Cell Function and Interaction

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Michelson Prize and Grants, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases