Expression of cell adhesion complexes in epithelial cells seeded on biomaterial surfaces

Abstract

Clinical studies indicate that soft tissue responses around dental implants vary, depending on the material used. It is therefore also possible that there are differences in how epithelial cells attach to various biomaterial surfaces. We studied the adhesion of cultured epithelial cells to five different dental material surfaces and to glass. The efficacy of adhesion was evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunofluorescence microscopy (IF) with antibodies to vinculin and alpha(6)beta(4) integrin, two cell surface molecules that are functional in epithelial cell adhesion. Our results indicate that epithelial cells adhere and spread more avidly on metallic surfaces (titanium, Ti(6)Al(4)V titanium alloy, dental gold alloy) than on ceramic surfaces (dental porcelain, aluminum oxide). As revealed by SEM, cells on metallic surfaces had a flattened morphology and formed multicellular islands. On porcelain and aluminum oxide most cells were round and adhesion occurred as single cells. Surface coverage was over twofold on metallic surfaces as compared to ceramic surfaces. IF of cells grown on metallic surfaces revealed vinculin in well-organized focal contacts and alpha(6)beta(4) integrin in punctate patterns typical of prehemidesmosomes. On porcelain and aluminum oxide surfaces the cells were mostly round and showed less well-organized adhesion complexes. Our results indicate that smooth metallic biomaterial surfaces are optimal for epithelial cell adhesion and spreading. These findings may have clinical implications in the design of transgingival implant structures.

Surface Modifications of Dental Ceramic Implants with Different Glass Solder Matrices:In VitroAnalyses with Human Primary Osteoblasts and Epithelial Cells

“…Overall, rougher surfaces appear to be beneficial for enhanced osteoblast proliferation and adhesion [4, 8, 16, 26]. In our study, the gingival epithelial cells responded to the examined surfaces partially opposite to the osteoblasts and exhibited a slightly decreased viability and less dense cell layers on the native and S1 coated ceramic specimens, which is supported by several works [27, 28]. Nevertheless, cell viability was significantly increased on the S2 coated ceramic specimens.…”

“…Nevertheless, cell viability was significantly increased on the S2 coated ceramic specimens. At the same time, the negative effects of titanium roughness on epithelial cells [21] and the preference for smooth titanium were described [28]. Continuative tests with human epithelial cells should be performed to verify the influence of materials and surface topographies.…”

Initial attachment of human oral keratinocytes cultured on zirconia or titanium

“…The expression and organization of hemidesmosomes is a reflection and indicator of the efficiency of cell adhesion 17) . Lack of laminin-5 induces epidermal detachment from the hypodermis 32) .…”

Modification of titanium alloy surfaces for percutaneous implants by covalently attaching laminin

“…Cell to cell attachments are mediated via desmosomes and cell attachment to the basal membrane by hemidesmosomes (HDs) and focal adhesions (FAs). FAs are specialized electron‐dense regions of the plasma membrane making intimate contact with the cell substratum over a distance of 10–15 nm 3. This physical interaction allows extracellular communication, enabling cell attachment, migration, proliferation, and differentiation.…”