Diminished osteogenic capacity in mature periodontal ligament stem cells via RELB downregulation
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ABSTRACT: Although periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are pivotal for periodontal tissue regeneration, their regenerative capacity diminishes with the PDL maturity. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was conducted on immature and mature human PDL tissues to characterize the heterogeneity and predict critical regulators affecting osteogenic capacity of PDLSCs. Subsequently, the predicted role of RELB was experimentally validated both in vitro and in vivo using small interfering RNA.Our scRNA-seq analysis revealed significant heterogeneity within the PDLSC population. Notably, PDLSC-5 subtype, which exhibited osteogenic potential and positioned at the terminus of the pseudotime trajectory, was markedly reduced in mature PDL tissues. RELB was specifically overexpressed in PDLSC_5 and identified as a key transcription factor (TF) for this subcluster. Knockdown of RELB significantly inhibited the osteogenic differentiation capacity of PDLSCs in vitro and bone formation potential in vivo at both developmental stages. This inhibitory effect appears to be mediated, at least in part, through the downregulation of its target gene, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2).This study demonstrates that the proportion of PDLSCs with osteogenic ability significantly declines with maturity, accounting for the diminished regeneration capacity of mature periodontal tissue. Furthermore, RELB was identified as a crucial TF for maintaining the osteogenic potential of PDLSCs. These findings provide a theoretical basis for strategies aimed at optimizing the bone regeneration capacity of PDLSCs.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE306722 | GEO | 2025/09/04
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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