2. Academic Validation
  3. Nerve growth factor promote osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells through MEK/ERK signalling pathways

Nerve growth factor promote osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells through MEK/ERK signalling pathways

  • J Cell Mol Med. 2024 Feb;28(4):e18143. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.18143.
Chen Cheng 1 2 3,  Shuai Tang 1 2,  Shuyue Cui 1 2,  Tong Yang 1,  Lan Li 2,  Mingrui Zhai 2,  Fulan Wei 2,  Gang Ding 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China.
  • 2 Department of Orthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, China.
  • 3 Department of Stomatology, Heze Municipal Hospital, China.
PMID: 38333908 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18143
Abstract

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), are known to play important roles in the immune and nervous system. However, the effects of NGF on the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of NGF on the osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs in vitro and the underlying mechanisms. DPSCs were cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium containing NGF (50 ng/mL) for 7 days. Then osteogenic-related genes and protein markers were analysed using qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Furthermore, addition of NGF inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection experiments were used to elucidate the molecular signalling pathway responsible for the process. NGF increased osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs significantly compared with DPSCs cultured in an osteogenic-inducing medium. The NGF inhibitor Ro 08-2750 (10 μM) and siRNA-mediated gene silencing of NGF receptor, TrkA and ERK signalling pathways inhibitor U0126 (10 μM) suppressed osteogenic-related genes and protein markers on DPSCs. Furthermore, our data revealed that NGF-upregulated osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs may be associated with the activation of MEK/ERK signalling pathways via TrkA. Collectively, NGF was capable of promoting osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs through MEK/ERK signalling pathways, which may enhance the DPSCs-mediated bone tissue regeneration.

Keywords

MEK/ERK signalling; dental pulp stem cells; differentiation; nerve growth factor; tropomyosin receptor kinase A.

Figures
Products