Microgrooved poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) affects the phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells through let-7a-involved regulation of actin dynamics

Cell–substrate interaction is important in tissue engineering. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) cultured on the microgrooved surface of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) showed a distinctive polarized morphology and a high expression level of let-7a compared with the flat substrates. LIMK2, a crucial regulator of actin dynamics, was identified as a new target of let-7a. F-Actin content on flat substrates was significantly higher than that on microgrooved ones. Either overexpression of let-7a on flat substrates or inhibited expression on microgrooved substrates can rescue the difference. In accord with actin dynamics, the expressions of contractile smooth muscle markers, such as SM22 and SMA, decreased in VSMCs cultured on microgrooved substrates compared to those on flat ones, though PHBHHx can induce the synthetic-to-contractile phenotype shift. These results indicate that microgrooved PHBHHx could enhance actin dynamics of VSMCs through let-7a-involved regulation and trigger a synthetic shift.