Enhancement of osteogenesis on hydroxyapatite surface coated with synthetic peptide (EEEEEEEPRGDT) in vitro

Some dental implants are coated with hydroxyapatite (HA), which preferentially binds to bone. Several matrix proteins have an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence where cells attach via an integrin receptor. We hypothesized that coating an HA surface with an RGD-containing peptide might enhance the attachment and differentiation of osteoblasts. The HA disks (diameter 34 mm, thickness 1 mm) were treated with a solution (50 mM Tris/HCl and 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4) containing the peptide EEEEEEEPRGDT, in which the E repetition exerts a high affinity to HA. After washing with phosphate-buffered saline, KUSA/A1 mouse osteoblastic cells were inoculated onto the HA surface and cultured. After 30 min, the number of cells attached to the surface was counted. The DNA content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were measured after 10 days in culture. Expression of bone matrix proteins was also examined by means of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction at 7 days; the mineralized area of the culture was also evaluated by staining with Alizarin Red S after 10 days. Treatment with the peptide stimulated cell attachment and increased DNA content and ALP activity. Furthermore, matrix protein expression and mineralized nodule formation were enhanced to a greater extent on the peptide-treated surface than on the nontreated surface. Our results indicate that coating an HA surface with RGD-containing peptide enhances osteoblast attachment and differentiation. This peptide treatment of HA-coated implants may stimulate the osseointegration of the implants.