title: Effect of titanium surface roughness on human osteoblast proliferation and gene expression in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cell proliferation and extracellular matrix formation are primary events in bone formation. At the dental implant-tissue interface, implant surface roughness modulates osteoblast functions. The aim of the present in vitro study was to investigate the effect of varying surface roughness of titanium implant material on cell proliferation and mRNA expression of specific markers of osteoblast phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary cultures of osteoblasts derived from human mandibular bone were cultured on titanium surfaces. Three titanium surfaces were studied: machined titanium, microsandblasted titanium, and macro-sandblasted titanium (average surface roughnesses of 0.5 and 3 microm, respectively). Cell morphology was estimated by scanning electron microscope analysis and cell proliferation by measuring the amount of 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. mRNA expression of osteonectin, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein (BSP), and Runx2, which are markers of osteoblastic phenotype, were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human osteoblasts cultured on machined titanium spread more and were flatter than cells cultured on rough titanium. All blasted surfaces showed significantly higher DNA synthesis than the machined surfaces. Osteonectin mRNA expression was similar on all surfaces. Other mRNA transcripts were increased in osteoblasts cultured on rough titanium surfaces, particularly the macrosandblasted surface.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An average surface roughness of 3 microm (macro-sandblasted titanium) is more suitable than an average surface roughness of 0.5 microm (micro-sandblasted titanium) in favoring osteoblast differentiation in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Science, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorella
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marinucci
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balloni
authors.forename: Ennio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Becchetti
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belcastro
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvitti
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lilli
authors.forename: Edoardo Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Calvi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Locci
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein; D008334:Mandible / Q000166:cytology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015676:Osteonectin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; C546871:IBSP protein, human; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein; D015676:Osteonectin; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D053495:Osteopontin; D012313:RNA; D014025:Titanium