Hydroxyapatite coating affects the Wnt signaling pathway during peri-implant healing in vivo

• Owing to its bio- and osteoconductivity, hydroxyapatite (HA) is a widely used implant material, but its osteogenic properties are only partly evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The present study focused on bone healing adjacent to HA-coated titanium (Ti) implants, with or without incorporated lithium ions (Li+). Special attention was given to the Wnt signaling pathway. The implants were inserted into rat tibia for 7 or 28days and analyzed ex vivo, mainly by histomorphometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. HA-coated implants showed, irrespective of Li+ content, bone-implant contact (BIC) and removal torque significantly higher than those of reference Ti. Further, the expressions of OCN, CTSK, COL1A1, LRP5/6 and WISP1 were significantly higher in implant-adherent cells of HA-coated implants, with or without Li+. Significantly higher β-catenin expression and significantly lower COL2A1 expression were observed in peri-implant bone cells from HA with 14ngcm-2 released Li+. Interestingly, Ti implants showed a significantly larger bone area in the threads than HA with 39ngcm-2 released Li+, but had a lower BIC than any HA-coated implant. This study shows that HA, with or without Li+ is a strong activator of the Wnt signaling pathway, and may to some degree explain its high bone induction capacity.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinsk bioteknologi -- Biomaterialvetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Medical Biotechnology -- Biomaterials Science (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinsk bioteknologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Medical Biotechnology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Gene expression

Hydroxyapatite

Lithium

Osseointegration

Wnt signaling pathway

Engineering Science with specialization in Materials Science

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)