Activation of multiple signaling pathways during the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured in a silicon nanowire microenvironment

Dandan Liu; Changqing Yi; Chi-Chun Fong; Qinghui Jin; Zuankai Wang; Wai-Kin Yu; Dong Sun; Jianlong Zhao; Mengsu Yang

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2014.02.003

Activation of multiple signaling pathways during the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured in a silicon nanowire microenvironment

Nanomedicine. 2014 Aug;10(6):1153-63. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2014.02.003. Epub 2014 Feb 22.

Authors

Dandan Liu¹, Changqing Yi¹, Chi-Chun Fong¹, Qinghui Jin², Zuankai Wang³, Wai-Kin Yu¹, Dong Sun⁴, Jianlong Zhao², Mengsu Yang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
² State Key Laboratories of Transducer Technology & Science and Technology on Micro-system Laboratory, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
⁴ Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 24566272
DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2014.02.003

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) offer an optimal source for bone tissue engineering due to their capability of undergoing multilineage differentiation, where the mechanical properties of the microenvironment of MSCs are vital for osteochondral formation. However, the mechanisms of how mechanical and microenvironmental cues control osteogenesis and chondrogenesis are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of vertically aligned silicon nanowire (SiNW) array on the differentiation of MSCs and the associated molecular mechanisms involved in osteogenesis and chandrogenesis. The results showed that the microenvironment of SiNW array activated a number of mechanosensitive pathways (including Integrin, TGF-β/BMP, Akt, MAPK, Insulin, and Wnt pathways) in MSCs, which converged to stimulate the osteogenesis and chondrogenesis via the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK cascade.

From the clinical editor: This study reports on the mechanisms and microenvironmental influence of osteogenesis and chondrogenesis by mesenchymal stem cells interacting with vertically aligned silicon nanowire scaffolds.

Keywords: Mechanical stimuli; Mesenchymal stem cell; Microenvironment; Signaling pathways; Silicon nanowire array.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Differentiation
Cells, Cultured
Female
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
Mice
Nanowires / chemistry*
Nanowires / ultrastructure
Osteogenesis
Signal Transduction
Silicon / chemistry*
Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

Silicon