CyclinD1, CDK4, and P21 expression by IEC-6 cells in response to NiTi alloy and polymeric biomaterials

In order to investigate how cells recognize biomaterials, mRNA that was expressed in attached Intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) on various suture substrates was evaluated. The expressed cell cycle regulators (cyclin D1, CDK4 and p21) mRNA were then isolated and detected using the real time- polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. As a result, cyclin D1 gene expression was affected by cell-polymer adhesion and was associated with cell proliferation. In addition, CDK4 gene expression was affected by cell proliferation rather than by cell-biomaterial interaction. The p21 mRNA gene expression was higher in cells on more hydrophilic surfaces than on hydrophobic surfaces. Further, the cyclin D1, CDK4 and p21 gene expression were also influenced by the surface chemistry of suture materials. We concluded that the expression of cyclin D1, CDK4 and p21 mRNA was a powerful method for studying cell-biomaterial interactions or the evaluation of the carcinogenic activity of biomaterials.