title: Early keratinocyte differentiation on micropillar interfaces.
abstract: We employed topographical patterning to analyze early keratinocyte differentiation on top of microfabricated pillar arrays. Fibronectin immobilized on pillar "heads" yielded a nucleus-associated granular keratin 1 (K1) pattern in immortalized human gingival keratinocytes (IHGK) at pillar interspaces of 14 mum. Decreasing distances of 11and 8 mum revealed cytoplasmic extension of the early differentiation marker K1 on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) pillars. The most extensive cytoplasmic K1 protein distribution noted at the smallest pillar scale coincided with higher ratios of K1 mRNA gene transcription. These experiments suggest that early keratinocyte differentiation was governed by the topographical characteristics of the pillar pattern. Moreover, they form the basis to study cell functions such as differentiation in a defined topologically structured environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Dental School, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, D-69120 Heidelberg. thorsten.steinberg@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Joachim P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Spatz
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grabe
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mussig
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.forename: Gerda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Komposch
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tomakidi
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D053556:Keratin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012828:Silicones; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; C491616:KRT1 protein, human; D053556:Keratin-1; D012828:Silicones; C013830:baysilon