HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Cellular and Molecular Biology

 

Mitochondrial bioenergetics and distribution in living human osteoblasts grown on implant surfaces

Mercedes Salido1, J. Ignacio Vilches-Perez2, Juan L. Gonzalez3 and Jose Vilches1

1Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Laboratory 57, Servicios Centrales de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain, 2Department of Oral surgery, School of Dentistry. University of Seville, Seville, Spain and 3Department of Statistics and Operational Research, School of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.

Offprint requests to: Mercedes Salido, Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Laboratory 57, Servicios Centrales de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, University of Cadiz, C/ Dr. Marañon 3, 11002 Cádiz. Spain. e-mail: mercedes.salido@uca.es


Summary. Osseointegration of implants is crucial for the long-term success of oral implants. The periimplant bone formation by osteoblasts is strongly dependent on the local mechanical environment in the interface zone. Robust demands for energy are placed on osteoblasts during the adhesion process to solid surfaces, and mitochondria are capital organelles in the production of most of the ATP needed for the process. We have assessed the relationship between osteoblast differentiation and mitochondrial bioenergetics in living cells grown on two different titanium surfaces, in order to provide valuable information for the design of material surfaces required for the development of the most appropriate osteogenic surface for osteoblastic anchorage. Combined backscattered and fluorescence confocal microscopy showed that in flat cells grown on a machined surface, highly energized mitochondria were distributed along the cell body. In contrast, cells grown on the rough surface emitted long protrusions in search of surface roughness, with actin stress fibers clearly polarized and highly energized mitochondria clustered at focal adhesion sites. This report using normal human osteoblastic cells indicates that these cells are especially sensitive to surface cues through energy production that enhances the necessary adhesion required for a successful osseointegration
. Histol Histopathol 24, 1275-1286 (2009)

Key words: Titanium, Surface topography, Osteoblast, Cell adhesion, Mitochondrial membrane potential

DOI: 10.14670/HH-24.1275