Phenotype and gene expression pattern of osteoblast-like cells cultured on polystyrene and hydroxyapatite with...

Hydroxyapatite and type-I collagen are major components of bone matrix. We compared phenotype and gene expression pattern of osteoblast-like cells cultured on HAp and HAp with pre-adsorbed type-I collagen from neutral solutions (HAp/NCs) with those of tissue culture grade polystyrene (TCPS) and TCPS with the collagen (TCPS/NCs). In initial cell attachment, the cells tensely spread on TCPS, while loosely spread on TCPS/NCs, HAp, and HAp/NCs. The levels of expressed integrin alpha2 and alpha5 subunits were not significantly different among any surfaces. Although the cells on HAp/NCs directly attached with the same collagen molecules as TCPS/NCs, mineralization was observed in only TCPS/NCs. The basal substrates (TCPS and HAp) greatly influenced osteoblast maturation even in the surfaces with pre-adsorbed collagen, since mineralization was induced by TCPS, but not by HAp. Gene expression pattern analyzed with DNA microarray also supported greater influence of basal substrates than pre-adsorbed collagen. In addition, comprehensive gene expression analyses revealed that HAp and HAp/NCs specifically up-regulated Ly6a and Tmem37 genes, while down-regulated Ifitm5 gene.