Nucleus alignment and cell signaling in fibroblasts: response to a micro-grooved topography

Cellular response to scaffold materials is of great importance in cellular and tissue engineering, and it is perhaps the initial cell contact with the scaffold that determines development of new tissue. Material surface morphology has strong effects on cell cytoskeleton and morphology, and it is thought that cells may react to the topography of collagen and surrounding cells during tissue embryology. A poorly understood area is, however, gene-level responses to topography. Thus, this paper used microarray to probe for consistent gene changes in response to lithographically produced topography (12.5 X 2-mum grooves) with time. The results showed many initial gene changes and also down-regulation of gene response with time. Cell and nucleus morphology were also considered, with nuclear deformation linked to cell signaling. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.