Int Endod J. 2015 Feb 19. doi: 10.1111/iej.12441. [Epub ahead of print]

Increased proliferation and adhesion properties of human dental pulp stem cells in PLGA scaffolds via simulated microgravity.

He L¹, Pan S, Li Y, Zhang L, Zhang W, Yi H, Song C, Niu Y.

Abstract

AIM:

To explore the possibility of utilizing a rotary cell culture system (RCCS) to model simulated microgravity and investigate its effects on the proliferation, adhesion, migration and cytoskeletal organization of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) on Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds.

METHODOLOGY:

Isolated and identified hDPSCs grown on PLGA scaffolds were exposed to simulated microgravity (SMG) or normal gravity (NG) conditions for 3 days. MTT cell proliferation assays, BrdU incorporation assays, flow cytometry analysis and western blotting were implemented to identify the proliferation ability of hDPSCs under SMG conditions. Additionally, immunofluoresence detection, SEM observations and cell migration and adhesion assays were performed to compare adhesion, migration and cytoskeletal changes in hDPCSs subjected to SMG conditions. To further investigate the mechanisms, human pathway-focused matrix and adhesion PCR array analyses were performed. Student's t-test was used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS:

SMG promoted proliferation and adhesion, decreased migration and reorganized the cytoskeletal organization of hDPSCs compared with the NG group. PCR array analyses revealed that following SMG treatment, ITGA6 (Integrin alpha 6), ITGAV (Integrin alpha V), ITGB1 (Integrin beta 1), LAMB1 (Laminin beta 1) and TNC (Tenascin C) were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

SMG may regulate the behavior of hDPSCs grown in PLGA scaffolds in an integrin-mediated manner, which may contribute totooth tissue engineering by increasing their expandability and scaffold adhesion. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.