Titanium Substratum Roughness as a Determinant of Human Gingival Fibroblast Fibronectin and α-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression

Abstract

The most appropriate surface treatment to enhance gingival connective tissue formation on the abutment of dental implants remains undefined, with healing associated with a scar-like response. We have previously shown that topographies with an arithmetic average of the absolute profile height deviations (Ra) = 4.0 induces an anti-fibrotic phenotype in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) by causing nascent adhesion formation. With bacterial colonization considerations, we hypothesized that a lower Ra could be identified that would alter adhesion stability and promote a matrix remodeling phenotype. Focal adhesions (FAs) area decreased with increasing roughness, although no differences in cell attachment or proliferation were observed. Alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein levels were significantly reduced on Ra = 3.0 and 4.0 vs. 0.1 (p < 0.05), with incorporation of α-SMA into stress fibers most prominent on Ra = 0.1. Fibronectin protein levels were reduced on 3.0 and 4.0 vs. 0.1 (p < 0.05), and Ra = 1.5 and deeper significantly altered fibronectin deposition. Addition of exogenous TGF-β3 increased HGF adhesion size on 0.1 surfaces, but not on any other topography. We conclude that Ra = 1.5 is sufficient to reduce adhesion size and inhibit α-SMA incorporation into stress fibers in HGFs, but 3.0 is required in the presence of exogenous TGF-β3. Our findings have implications for inhibiting fibrotic tissue formation surrounding percutaneous devices such as dental implants.

Dual-catalytic CuTPP/TiO2 nanoparticles for surface catalysis engineering of cardiovascular materials

“…7 (A, B), after 24 ​h of incubation SMCs adhered to the SS in large amounts and spread out fully. Relative to SS, the adhesion, spreading, and activity of SMCs decreased on TiO 2 -film, and this may be related to the introduction of PDA coating and the change in surface roughness [ 34 , 35 ]. In contrast, after the addition of donor, CuTPP/TiO 2 -film (donor [+]) exhibited the most potent inhibition of SMC adhesion and spreading, and the cellular activity decreased to 36% of that of SS (donor (−)).…”

Effect of calcium hydrothermal treatment of zirconia abutments on human gingival fibroblasts

“…Connective tissues, as basic components of soft tissue surrounding the implant abutment, also prevent bacterial invasion and other inflammatory factors from the oral environment. Thus, fibroblasts have been used in several studies to demonstrate the soft tissue sealing around implant abutment 12,13 …”

“…Thus, fibroblasts have been used in several studies to demonstrate the soft tissue sealing around implant abutment. 12,13 Calcium is an essential element for the human body, and it has been used as biomaterial in oral and implant treatment studies. 14,15 Our previous study demonstrated that calcium impacts fibroblast adhesion to accelerate peri-implant soft tissue integration.…”

Effect of addition of Ca2+ to titanium by a hydrothermal method on soft tissue sealing

“…Epithelial cells migrate from implant surface to the root; connective tissue can prevent the migration of epithelial cells (Cafiero et al, 2017). It also prevents the invasion of oral environment inflammatory factors (Cristina et al, 2022;Li et al, 2021). Human gingival fibroblasts Abbreviations: C, control; Ca 2+ , calcium ions; CCK-8, Cell Counting Kit 8; DAB, diaminobenzidine; ECM, extracellular matrix; hGFs, human gingival fibroblasts; O, oxygen; SEM, scanning electron microscopy; Ti, titanium; TPs, Tttanium plates.…”

“…Epithelial cells migrate from implant surface to the root; connective tissue can prevent the migration of epithelial cells (Cafiero et al, 2017). It also prevents the invasion of oral environment inflammatory factors (Cristina et al, 2022; Li et al, 2021). Human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) have a key role in the formation of soft‐tissue attachments around an implant.…”