Open Collections

Effect of six-sided pillars on epithelial cell behaviour

University of British Columbia

A desirable attribute of implants penetrating epithelium is the inhibition of inward migration of epithelial cells. This inward epithelial migration can be inhibited by the ingrowth of connective tissue on grooved substrata. Very few studies have focused on the direct effect of geometrically more complex topographies on epithelial migration. We examined the migration, morphology, cytoskeletal organization and proliferation of epithelial cells cultured on a novel complex topography comprising square floors surrounded by six-sided pillars and compared these properties to those of cells cultured on smooth control surfaces. Relative to smooth surface, cells had a reduced velocity but a higher persistence in their direction of migration on the pillar substrata. Vinculin staining demonstrated that cells formed adhesions on pillar tops, in gaps and on the walls. Attachments on pillar tops were mature plaques while the adhesions in gaps and on walls were significantly smaller. Overall there were more mature adhesions on pillars compared to smooth surfaces, which may account for the reduced speed of migration as well as the limited distance of migration on this substratum. At 3 hours, actin stress fibers readily formed on pillar tops, gaps and walls, however, by 6 hours the stress fibers were predominantly found on pillar tops. At 6 hours, the positioning of actin stress fibers on pillar tops differed significantly (p[Less than or equal to]0.001) from the positioning of microtubules (MTs) which had a tendency to form in the gaps of the six-sided pillars; very few microtubules were found on pillar tops.

Text

2011-02-25

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/31786

Dental Science

University of British Columbia

Graduate