What is it about?
Cytotoxic T cells must eliminate pathogens while sparing healthy tissue, yet how this response arises from cellular decision rules remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate how the mechanistic design (e.g., gene regulation, signal transduction) of the T cell response influences performance objectives, such as threat clearance and avoidance of self-damage.
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Why is it important?
Using mathematical models, we identified trade-offs between threat clearance and avoidance of self-damage and showed how T cell responses can be re-engineered to navigate them. Extending the framework to cancer immunotherapies, we identified genetic targets that improve efficacy while limiting toxicity of treatment.
Perspectives
Completing this project was a great experience. I hope this article inspires follow-up experiments relating genetic perturbations to T cell function.
Obinna Ukogu
University of Washington
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Design principles of the cytotoxic CD8
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T cell response, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2026, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2528202123.
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