Promotional effects and mechanism of psoralen on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells
Objective To observe the promotional effects of psoralen on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells(hPDLSCs),and to explore their mechanism.Methods The third-generation hPDLSCs were divided into six groups:the control group and 5,10,25,50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups,respective-ly.HPDLSCs in the 5,10,25,50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups were treated with 5,10,25,50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen,and hPDLSCs in the control group were cultured normally.Cell proliferation capacity was measured by CCK-8 assay,alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activity by colorimetric method,and mineralization nodules by alizarin red staining.Another third-generation hPDLSCs were divided into two groups:the control group and 25 μmol/L psoralen group.Cells in the 25 μmol/L psoralen group were treated with 25 μmol/L psoralen,while cells in the control group were cultured nor-mally.Transcription factor 2(Runx 2)and osteopontin(OPN)mRNA were detected by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the control group,cell proliferation capacity and ALP activity increased in the 5,10,25,50 and 100 μmol/L pso-ralen groups,and mineralization nodules increased in the 25 μmol/L psoralen group(all P<0.05).Compared with the 5 μmol/L psoralen group,cell proliferative capacity increased in the 25,50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups,ALP activity increased in the 10 and 25 μmol/L psoralen groups,and mineralization nodules increased in the 25 μmol/L psoralen group(all P<0.05).Compared with the 10 μmol/L psoralen group,cell proliferation capacity increased in the 25,50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups(all P<0.05).Compared with the 25 μmol/L group,ALP activity decreased in the 50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,relative expression levels of Runx 2 and OPN mRNA increased in the 25 μmol/L psoralen group(all P<0.05).Conclusions Psoralen of 5-100 μmol/L pro-motes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs.It shows a dose-dependent enhancement at 5 to 25 μmol/L,and there is no obvious change at 50 to 100 μmol/L.The mechanism of psoralen promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs may be related to the regulation of Runx 2 signaling pathway.