Cell-cell communication

When cells adhere to each other, a transmembrane protein – cadherin helps the adhered cells to communicate within each other. Since there is a surface tension in the adhered cells which affects the cell-cell contact. Cadherins trigger signals to reorganise the actomyosin cytoskeleton from each cells to reduce the tension and increase the contact surface area. Another way of cell communication is by cell signalling molecules when cells are apart from each other. There are a few signalling types but they all follow the same principle. A cell gives out a signalling molecule which binds to the receptor on another cell. The signalling molecule activates a receptor at a specific area of the surface.

To transduce the signal into the target cell, a secondary, intracellular signalling molecule is needed. This could be any protein and ions, etc. Eventually, there will be an end point which is a cellular activity, such as, cytoskeleton reorganisation. In fact, cell communication complements with the immune system very well because cell communications trigger the release of white blood cells, such as, macrophages, to engulf bacteria and foreign substances on where the biomaterial is implanted. Firstly, the biomaterials used in dental implants are titanium and polymer. For titanium, it is used because its surface is suitable for the formation of stable oxide layer which suggests a high biocompatibility. Polymer such as, polymethacrylate, is used because it is easy to be produced and reproduced. The details of the cell communication will be explored together with the immune system in another blog. 

However, it is worth mentioning that the effect of biomaterial is more than just affecting the ways cell communicate. The biomaterial – bioglass in fact enhances the cell communications between bone marrow and endothelial cell. [2] Because the chemical signals in bioglass ions directly helps cell to metabolise. Since the paracrine effect is stimulated, the result is increase in angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Therefore, bioglass is very applicable to any biomedical products involving contact with bones. Paracrine effect of signalling is the diagram above.