目的:石墨烯量子点(GQDs),一种碳基纳米材料,有非凡的生物学特性,物理,和化学性质。本研究探讨了在炎症微环境中GQDs诱导人牙周膜干细胞(PDLSCs)增殖和成骨分化的生物学机制。
方法:PDLSCs在标准培养基或模拟促炎环境的培养基中与各种浓度的GQDs一起在成骨诱导培养基中培养。CCK-8法检测GQDs对PDLSCs增殖和成骨分化的影响,茜素红S染色,和qRT-PCR。此外,通过qRT-PCR测量Wnt/β-catenin信号通路相关基因的表达。
结果:与对照组相比,ALP的mRNA表达水平,用GQDs处理后,PDLSCs中的RUNX2和OCN以及矿化结节的数量均增加。此外,在PDLSCs成骨分化过程中,LRP6和β-catenin的表达水平,它们是Wnt/β-catenin信号通路相关基因,被上调了。
结论:在炎症微环境中,GQDs可能通过激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路促进PDLSCs的成骨分化能力。
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a type of carbon-based nanomaterial, have remarkable biological, physical, and chemical properties. This study investigated the biological mechanisms of the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) induced by GQDs in an inflammatory microenvironment.
PDLSCs were cultured in osteogenic-induced medium with various concentrations of GQDs in standard medium or medium mimicking a proinflammatory environment. The effects of GQDs on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation activity of PDLSCs were tested by CCK-8 assay, Alizarin Red S staining, and qRT‒PCR. In addition, Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway-related gene expression was measured by qRT‒PCR.
Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression levels of ALP, RUNX2, and OCN and the number of mineralized nodules were all increased in PDLSCs after treatment with GQDs. Moreover, during the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs, the expression levels of LRP6 and β-catenin, which are Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway-related genes, were upregulated.
In the inflammatory microenvironment, GQDs might promote the osteogenic differentiation ability of PDLSCs by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.