Bioactive nanofibers enable the identification of thrombospondin 2 as a key player in enamel regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Tissue regeneration and development involves highly synchronized signals both between cells and with the extracellular environment. Biomaterials can be tuned to mimic specific biological signals and control cell response(s). As a result, these materials can be used as tools to elucidate cell signaling pathways and candidate molecules involved with cellular processes. In this work, we explore enamel-forming cells, ameloblasts, which have a limited regenerative capacity. By exposing undifferentiated cells to a self-assembling matrix bearing RGDS epitopes, we elicited a regenerative signal at will that subsequently led to the identification of thrombospondin 2 (TSP2), an extracellular matrix protein that has not been previously recognized as a key player in enamel development and regeneration

SUBMITTER: Huang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4467543 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature