Abstract
As a transcription factor regulated by bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), Forkhead c2 (Foxc2) plays a pivot role in osteogenesis/odontogenesis. However, the role of Foxc2 and BMP2 in regulating osteo-/odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) is still uncertain. In this research, overexpression of Foxc2 gene significantly improved the proliferation of SCAP four days and eight days after transfection, but overexpression of both Foxc2 and BMP2 genes significantly inhibited the proliferation of SCAP eight days after transfection. RT-qPCR and western blot results indicated that SCAP-Foxc2-BMP2 significantly upregulated osteo-/odontogenic genes and proteins at most of the time points in SCAP after transfection. Moreover, SCAP-Foxc2-BMP2 formed notably more alkaline phosphatase-positive and alizarin red-positive mineralized nodules than other three group cells sixteen days after transfection. In conclusion, our findings revealed that Foxc2 and BMP2 synergistically promoted osteo-/odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of SCAP in vitro.
Highlights
How to effectively regenerate dentin and repair tooth defects is the key problem in dental regenerative medicine [1]
It is necessary to explore the key genes in regulating osteo-/odontogenic differentiation of stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) and on this basis enhance their expression in order to enable reparative dentin formation
Those primary SCAP isolated from the apical papillae presented classic cell colonies eight days after culture, and most of the SCAP were spindle-like in shape (Figure 1(b))
Summary
How to effectively regenerate dentin and repair tooth defects is the key problem in dental regenerative medicine [1]. Human stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) are considered to be suitable seed cells for dentin regeneration, because they have osteo-/odontogenic differentiation potential, good individual specificity, and high proliferative activity [2]. They can regularly be obtained from extracted immature third molars or orthodontic teeth in clinical practice [3]. It is necessary to explore the key genes in regulating osteo-/odontogenic differentiation of SCAP and on this basis enhance their expression in order to enable reparative dentin formation
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