Signaling Pathway and Transcriptional Regulation in Osteoblasts during Bone Healing: Direct Involvement of Hydroxyapatite as a Biomaterial

Bone defects and periodontal disease are pathological conditions that may become neglected diseases if not treated properly. Hydroxyapatite (HA), along with tricalcium phosphate bioglass ceramic, is a biomaterial widely applied to orthopedic dental uses. The in vivo performance of HA determined by the interaction between particles bone cells, particularly mineralizing cells osteoblasts. It has been reported HA-induced osteoblastic differentiation increasing expression osteogenic transcription factors. However, pathway involved events occur cell membrane have well understood remain controversial. Advances gene editing discovery pharmacologic inhibitors assist researchers better understand differentiation. This review summarizes involvement extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, Wnt, morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) cellular regulation induced HA. These advances enhance current understanding molecular mechanism as biomaterial. Moreover, they provide strategy for design be utilized engineering.