Tension in target cells controls how immune cells nibble pieces off them

Cortical tension of target cells is a key regulator of macrophage behavior, influencing whether they trogocytose or phagocytose.

• Macrophages preferentially trogocytose antibody-opsonized cells when target cell tension is low.
• At high cortical tension, macrophages are more likely to phagocytose target cells.
• Macrophages can rapidly switch from trogocytosis to phagocytosis when membrane tension is increased.
• Stiffening the cortex of target cells leads to a bias towards phagocytosis by macrophages.
• Increased antibody surface density can counteract the effects of target cell stiffness on macrophage behavior.

Simplified