title: Activation of multiple signaling pathways during the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured in a silicon nanowire microenvironment.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) offer an optimal source for bone tissue engineering due to their capability of undergoing multilineage differentiation, where the mechanical properties of the microenvironment of MSCs are vital for osteochondral formation. However, the mechanisms of how mechanical and microenvironmental cues control osteogenesis and chondrogenesis are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of vertically aligned silicon nanowire (SiNW) array on the differentiation of MSCs and the associated molecular mechanisms involved in osteogenesis and chandrogenesis. The results showed that the microenvironment of SiNW array activated a number of mechanosensitive pathways (including Integrin, TGF-β/BMP, Akt, MAPK, Insulin, and Wnt pathways) in MSCs, which converged to stimulate the osteogenesis and chondrogenesis via the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK cascade.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This study reports on the mechanisms and microenvironmental influence of osteogenesis and chondrogenesis by mesenchymal stem cells interacting with vertically aligned silicon nanowire scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Chi-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratories of Transducer Technology & Science and Technology on Micro-system Laboratory, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qinghui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Zuankai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Wai-Kin
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratories of Transducer Technology & Science and Technology on Micro-system Laboratory, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jianlong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: bhmyang@cityu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Mengsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010012:Osteogenesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon
keywords: Mechanical stimuli; Mesenchymal stem cell; Microenvironment; Signaling pathways; Silicon nanowire array