Fig. 6.

Collagen fiber structure guides 3D motility of CD8+ T cells. Schematic describing the effect of collagen fiber alignment on T cell motility. In unaligned collagen matrices (left) T cells extend numerous protrusions that pull on the collagen fibers (force indicated by black arrows) and exhibit diffuse MLCK expression patterns within the cytoplasm. These cells drastically change their mode of migration when MLCK is inhibited thereby resembling cells encapsulated in aligned collagen matrices. Although the forces exhibited on the matrix from these cells is significantly less it is mostly exerted perpendicular to the axis of alignment (indicated by black arrows). Moreover, MLCK localizes to the periphery of the cell in puncta.