eLife assessment
This valuable study employs a diverse array of techniques encompassing cell biological manipulations, biophysical measurements, and mouse models to elucidate the impact of target cell stiffness on CD8+ cytotoxic T cell activation, with a particular focus on the actin nucleator protein WASP. The finding that WASP is essential for the stiffness-dependent phosphorylation of ZAP70 in CD8 T cells is convincing. However, the data regarding the role of WASP in mechanosensing within CD8 T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity is incomplete and would benefit from a more rigorous study design. This work would be of interest to cell biologists and investigators studying mechanosensing within the immune system.