(721b) Mediating Functions of Dendritic Cells by Tuning the Substratum Elasticity

In the human body, dendritic cells (DCs) constantly scan peripheral tissue areas for foreign pathogens. Upon contact, these pathogens are internalized by DCs leading to DC maturation and migration.1 DCs transmigrate to the lymph nodes and interact with T cells, resulting in defined immunological responses regulated by the degree of DC maturation, phenotype, and soluble mediators. DCs potentially have a mechano-sensing ability to perceive and respond to their surrounding environment. This study examines how the functions of DCs are affected by the change of stiffness of synthetic tissue substrata.