Quorum Regulation via Nested Antagonistic Feedback Circuits Mediated by the Receptors CD28 and CTLA-4 Confers Robustness to T Cell Population Dynamics (Immunity)

Zenke et al. show that dynamics of activated CD8+ T lymphocytes are shaped by intercellular communication in a manner akin to quorum regulation. Specifically, a network of nested antagonistic feedback circuits functions to sustain or curtail T cell expansion based on cellular density, thereby promoting robustness of T cell population dynamics.