title: The role of integrin-linked kinase/β-catenin pathway in the enhanced MG63 differentiation by micro/nano-textured topography.
abstract: Micro/nano-texturing is a promising approach to produce biomaterials with better tissue integration properties, but the underlying mechanisms are only partially understood. We propose that the integrin-linked kinase (ILK)/β-catenin pathway may play a role in mediating the signals of topographical cues to cells. To confirm the hypothesis, human MG63 osteoblasts are cultured on the micro/nano-textured topographies (MNTs) to assess the cell differentiation in terms of collagen secretion, extracellular matrix mineralization, and osteogenesis-related gene expression. The expression of β-catenin, ILK and integrin β1 and β3 is assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and the protein levels of β-catenin, phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β) and ILK are determined by western blot. The ILK silenced MG63 induced by small interfering RNA is cultured on the samples and the cell functions and the levels of β-catenin, GSK3β and p-GSK3β are determined. The results show that the MNTs enhance MG63 differentiation and it is related to the higher expression of integrin β1 and β3 and ILK, which activate the β-catenin signaling by initiating β-catenin expression and inhibiting its degradation by phosphorylating GSK3β. ILK silencing attenuates the β-catenin signaling activation and the enhanced MG63 differentiation by the MNTs. Our results explicitly demonstrate the role of the ILK/β-catenin pathway in mediating the signals from topographical cues to osteoblasts to tailor differentiation and provide new target points for biomaterials modification and biofunctionalization to attain better clinical performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 145 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lingzhou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kaimin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qianli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Shenglin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Qintao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051176:beta Catenin; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK