2. Academic Validation
  3. Dental pulp stem cell-derived intracellular vesicles prevent orthodontic relapse by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/NF-κB-mediated osteoclast activity

Dental pulp stem cell-derived intracellular vesicles prevent orthodontic relapse by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/NF-κB-mediated osteoclast activity

  • Stem Cell Res Ther. 2025 Jan 23;16(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s13287-025-04146-3.
Boyuan Peng # 1,  Ziwei Li # 2,  Yong Cheng 1,  Henghua Jiang 1 3,  Qingsong Ye 4 5,  Guangli Han 6 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, NO.237, Luo Yu Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan City, 430079, China.
  • 2 Center of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Gaoxin 6th Road, Jiangxia, Wuhan, Hubei, 430000, People's Republic of China.
  • 3 Department of Orthodontics Division II, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
  • 4 Center of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Gaoxin 6th Road, Jiangxia, Wuhan, Hubei, 430000, People's Republic of China. qingsongye@whu.edu.cn.
  • 5 Sydney School of Dentistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia. qingsongye@whu.edu.cn.
  • 6 State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, NO.237, Luo Yu Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan City, 430079, China. guanglihan@whu.edu.cn.
  • 7 Department of Orthodontics Division II, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China. guanglihan@whu.edu.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 39849611 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-025-04146-3
Abstract

Background: Orthodontic relapse, the undesired deviation of teeth from their corrected positions, remains a significant challenge in clinical orthodontics. Incomplete periodontal bone remodeling has been identified as a key factor in this process. Despite decades of research, currently there are no effective strategies to prevent relapse.

Methods: We isolated and identified dental pulp stem cell-derived intracellular vesicles (DPSC-IV) from human dental pulp tissue. To investigate its effect, DPSC-IV was added to osteoblast or osteoclast differentiation medium. During the orthodontic retention period, DPSC-IV was administrated to rats by subgingival injection. Relapse distance and relapse rate were calculated to evaluate DPSC-IV's ability to prevent relapse. Additionally, Western blot analysis were used to examine DPSC-IV's inhibitory effect on osteoclast differentiation.

Results: DPSC-IV significantly promoted osteoblast differentiation and inhibited osteoclast differentiation. Application of DPSC-IV during retention resulted in a significant reduction in both relapse distance and relapse rate, with improved periodontal structure and decreased osteoclast activity. This effect was mediated by the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway and could be reversed by the PI3K Activator insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of DPSC-IV as a novel preventive approach against orthodontic relapse, offering a novel strategy for maintaining long-term orthodontic stability.

Keywords

Bone remodeling; Cell communication; Intercellular vesicles; Oral medicine; Orthodontic tooth movement; Stem cells.

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