[Influence of surface modification of titanium on OPG/RANKL mRNA expression in MG-63 human osteoblast-like cells].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of surface modification of titanium on OPG/RANKL mRNA expression in human osteoblast-like cells.

METHODS

MG-63 osteoblast-like cells were seeded on the titanium plates with surface polishing and with surface modification by sandblasting plus acid-base treatment, with the cells on glass slides as the control. On days 2, 4, 6, and 8 following cell seeding, the cells were harvested for examination of OPG/RANKL mRNA expression using RT-PCR and real-time PCR.

RESULTS

The expression of OPG/RANKL mRNA was sensitive to the surface microphotography. Compared with the other groups, the cells on the titanium plates with sandblasting plus acid-base treatment, which resulted in a porous micro-structure and high roughness, showed significantly up-regulated expression of OPG mRNA. OPG mRNA expression also showed a time-dependent up-regulation, and was the highest on day 8. The expression of the RANKL mRNA in cells on both of the titanium plates was higher than that in the control cells. The peak level of RANKL mRNA expression occurred on day 6 followed by a gradual decrease.

CONCLUSION

A rough and porous surface of the culture plates and prolonged culture time can synergistically up-regulate the ratio of OPG/RANKL mRNA.