Titanium topography controls FoxO/beta-catenin signaling

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Mesenchymal cell responses to oxidative stress are critical in aging, wound healing, and inflammation.
• Cellular defense against Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) involves complex signaling pathways, including β-catenin, FoxO, and TCF.
• The role of surface topography in modulating these cellular responses remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how surface topography affects mesenchymal cell resistance to oxidative stress.
• To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, focusing on the β-catenin/FoxO/TCF signaling axis.
• To determine the impact of titanium surface roughness on cellular antioxidant defense.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mesenchymal C2C12 cells cultured on smooth and rough (SLA) titanium surfaces.
• Induced oxidative stress using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂).
• Quantified gene expression of anti-ROS factors and analyzed FoxO/β-catenin signaling via reporter assays.

Main Results:

• Mesenchymal cells grown on rough SLA titanium surfaces exhibited protection against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress.
• Increased expression of anti-ROS genes and enhanced FoxO/β-catenin signaling were observed on SLA surfaces.
• TCF-mediated transcription was suppressed by ROS on both smooth and SLA surfaces.

Conclusions:

• Surface topography, specifically roughness, significantly modulates cellular resistance to oxidative stress.
• Rough titanium surfaces promote cellular defense mechanisms against ROS through FoxO/β-catenin pathway activation.
• Surface topography influences the critical balance between cell proliferation and oxidative stress defense pathways.