title: Positively charged polymers modulate the fate of human mesenchymal stromal cells via ephrinB2/EphB4 signaling.
abstract: Understanding the mechanisms by which mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) interact with the physical properties (e.g. topography, charge, ζ-potential, and contact angle) of polymeric surfaces is essential to design new biomaterials capable of regulating stem cell behavior. The present study investigated the ability of two polymers (pHM1 and pHM3) with different positive surface charge densities to modulate the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblast-like phenotype via cell-cell ephrinB2/EphB4 signaling. Although pHM1 promoted the phosphorylation of EphB4, leading to cell differentiation, pHM3, characterized by a high positive surface charge density, had no significant effect on EphB4 activation or MSCs differentiation. When the MSCs were cultured on pHM1 in the presence of a forward signaling blocking peptide, the osteoblast differentiation was compromised. Our results demonstrated that the ephrinB2/EphB4 interaction was required for MSCs differentiation into an osteoblast-like phenotype and that the presence of a high positive surface charge density altered this interaction.
authors: Institute of Bioscience and BioResources - CNR -, Naples, Italy.
authors: Ilenia
authors: I
authors: De Luca
authors: Institute of Bioscience and BioResources - CNR -, Naples, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Di Salle
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Section, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Alessio
authors: Institute of Bioscience and BioResources - CNR -, Naples, Italy.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Margarucci
authors: Medical School "Federico II" Naples, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatologic Sciences, Naples, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Simeone
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Section, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Galderisi
authors: Institute of Bioscience and BioResources - CNR -, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: anna.calarco@ibbr.cnr.it.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Calarco
authors: Institute of Bioscience and BioResources - CNR -, Naples, Italy.
authors: Gianfranco
authors: G
authors: Peluso
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D036388:Ephrin-B2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D036224:Receptor, EphB4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D036388:Ephrin-B2; D011108:Polymers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015675:Osteocalcin; D053495:Osteopontin; D036224:Receptor, EphB4
keywords: Cationic polymers; Cell-cell ephrinB2/EphB4 signaling; MSCs differentiation; Regenerative medicine