Figure 7
β-cells relay on nanotopography features to regulate their differentiation and survival. Modification of β-cell shape and insulin expression in cells grown on flat-ZrO2 or ns-ZrOx during the in vitro culture. Ins: insulin, ChrA: chromogranin A, −/+ insulin or chromogranin A expression. Only β-cells grown on ns-ZrOx maintain their circularity and activate a survival and pro-differentiation program. The process is supported by a mechanotransduction pathway, driven by the nanostructured topology, via remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton, nuclear architecture and activation of a transcriptional program that promotes β-cell survival and differentiation. Examples of genes involved in the different processes are reported (the complete list of genes is reported in Supplementary Tables).
