Abstract
It is well known that the adsorption behavior of lymphocytes on fiber materials is related to the fiber size. In our previous study, murine lymphocytes cultured on various sizes of polypropylene fibers showed different IL-2 activity. The ultra-fine fiber of 1.5μm in diameter showed the highest value. Based upon these facts, to study whether ultra-fine fiber is applicable for modulating the lymphocyte functions, Con A was immobilized on the surface of polypropylene fibers having five different diameter ranging from 1.5μm to 7.9 μm, and cultured with murine lymphocytes. Fiber size effect on lymphocytes were evaluated in terms of IL-2 production and adhesion morphology. The Con A immobilized fibers could stimulate lymphocytes as high levels as 70-80% of maximal value induced by Con A solution. Statistical differ-ences in IL-2 production were not observed among the fiber sizes, although as fibers decreased in size, the contact area of the lymphocytes with fibers became smaller. The results suggested fiber size effect on the lymphocyte functions. In addition, it could be expected that damage of lymphocytes isolated from ultra-fine fibers were less than from larger size ones. Therefore, ultra-fine fibers might be useful substrates for immobilizing immunocyte activators.
Keywords lymphocyte function, IL-2 activity, Con A immobilized ultra-fine fibers, fiber size effect
