title: The influence of RGD-bearing hydrogels on the re-expression of contractile vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype.
abstract: This study reports on the ability of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel scaffolds with pendant integrin-binding GRGDSP peptides (RGD-gels) to support the re-differentiation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) toward a contractile phenotype. Human coronary artery SMCs were seeded on RGD-gels, hydrogels with other extracellular matrix derived peptides, fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LN). Differentiation was induced on RGD-gels with low serum medium containing soluble heparin, and the differentiation status was monitored by mRNA expression, protein expression, and intracellular protein organization of the contractile smooth muscle markers, smooth muscle alpha-actin, calponin, and SM-22alpha. RGD-gels supported a rapid induction (2.7- to 25-fold up-regulation) of SMC marker gene mRNA, with expression levels that were equivalent to FN and LN controls. Marker protein levels mirrored the changes in mRNA expression, with levels on RGD-gels indistinguishable from FN and LN controls. Furthermore, these markers co-localized in stress fibers within SMCs on RGD-gels suggesting the recapitulation of a contractile apparatus within the cells. These results indicate that SMCs cultured on RGD-bearing hydrogels can re-differentiate toward a contractile phenotype suggesting this material is an excellent candidate for further development as a bioactive scaffold that regulates SMC phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Beamish
authors.forename: Alexander Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Ae-jin
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nada A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Haq
authors.forename: Kandice
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kottke-Marchant
authors.forename: Roger E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Marchant
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008422:Materials Testing; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010641:Phenotype; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015415:Biomarkers; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D020100:Hydrogels; D007797:Laminin; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000096985:Calponins; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid