Modulation of microenvironment for controlling the fate of periodontal ligament cells: the role of Rho/ROCK signaling and cytoskeletal dynamics

Cells behave in a variety of ways when they perceive changes in their microenvironment; the behavior of cells is guided by their coordinated interactions with growth factors, niche cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM). Modulation of the microenvironment affects the cell morphology and multiple gene...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cell communication and signaling 2018-03, Vol.12 (1), p.369-378
Main Authors: Yamamoto, Tadashi, Ugawa, Yuki, Kawamura, Mari, Yamashiro, Keisuke, Kochi, Shinsuke, Ideguchi, Hidetaka, Takashiba, Shogo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apoptosis
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cell Biology
Cell fate
Cell interactions
Cytology
Cytoskeleton
Extracellular matrix
Growth factors
Homeostasis
Kinases
Life Sciences
Mesenchyme
Microenvironment
Periodontal ligament
Periodontal ligament cells
Protein kinase
Review
Rho‐associated coiled‐coil‐containing protein kinase
Stem cell fate
Stem cells
Teeth
Wound healing
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Summary:Cells behave in a variety of ways when they perceive changes in their microenvironment; the behavior of cells is guided by their coordinated interactions with growth factors, niche cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM). Modulation of the microenvironment affects the cell morphology and multiple gene expressions. Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) signaling is one of the key regulators of cytoskeletal dynamics and actively and/or passively determines the cell fate, such as proliferation, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis, by reciprocal communication with the microenvironment. During periodontal wound healing, it is important to recruit the residential stem cells into the defect site for regeneration and homeostasis of the periodontal tissue. Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells contain a heterogeneous fibroblast population, including mesenchymal stem cells, and contribute to the reconstruction of tooth-supporting tissues. Therefore, bio-regeneration of PDL cells has been the ultimate goal of periodontal therapy for decades. Recent stem cell researches have shed light on intrinsic ECM properties, providing paradigm shifts in cell fate determination. This review focuses on the role of ROCK activity and the effects of Y-27632, a specific inhibitor of ROCK, in the modulation of ECM-microenvironment. Further, it presents the current understanding of how Rho/ROCK signaling affects the fate determination of stem cells, especially PDL cells. In addition, we have also discussed in detail the underlying mechanisms behind the reciprocal response to the microenvironment.
ISSN:1873-9601
1873-961X
DOI:10.1007/s12079-017-0425-3