{
  "id": 18211293,
  "title": "Scientists reveal how cosignaling receptors dually regulate T cell activation via phase separation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/scientists-reveal-how-cosignaling-receptors-dually-regulate-t-cell",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-05T00:20:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-11-scientists-reveal-cosignaling-receptors-dually.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Scientists have uncovered the intricate regulatory mechanisms of T cell activation through the study of cosignaling receptors. Previous research has shown that the T cell receptor (TCR) undergoes phase separation with the kinase Lck to mediate rapid T cell activation. However, the role of costimulatory receptor CD28 and coinhibitory receptor PD-1 in this process has remained unclear. A recent study published in PNAS has revealed that CD28 can undergo phase separation with Lck, promoting T cell activation, while phosphorylated PD-1 inhibits CD28/Lck phase separation. This dual regulatory mechanism involves CD28 promoting T cell activation by forming signaling condensates with Lck, while PD-1 competitively binds the CD28 intracellular domain and co-condenses with it, thereby disrupting CD28/Lck condensates and inhibiting CD28 signaling. The researchers characterized the interaction interface between CD28 and PD-1, identified key binding sites, and designed mutants to confirm these findings. These insights provide valuable guidance for the rational design and optimization of CAR-T cells, deepening our understanding of the complex cosignaling regulatory network.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}