Osteogenic Differentiation Of Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Expressing Lentiviral NELL1

NELL1is a newly identified secreted protein involved in craniosynostosis and has been found to promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of NELL1on osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSC) and the potential underlying mechanism.Materials and Methods:hPDLSCs underwent lentivirus-mediated NELL1transfection (lenti-NELL1) and markers of osteogenesis were assessed (alkaline phosphate [ALP], osteocalcin [OCN], and calcium deposition) to evaluate the effect of NELL1on the differentiation of these cells. Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA expression of Msx2and Runx2, and lenti-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) served as a control.Results:Western blot and real-time PCR analyses confirmed that lenti-NELL1-transfected hPDLSCs could express NELL1. When compared with the lenti-EGFP group, ALP, OCN, calcium deposition, and Msx2mRNA expression were markedly increased (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in Runx2mRNA expression between the two groups (P>0.01).Conclusion:hPDLSCs can be transfected by lenti-NELL1and can stably express NELL1. NELL1can promote the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs, which may be related to the downregulation of Msx2expression, lentivirus-mediated NELL1transfection can be used during in vitro gene therapy for periodontal regeneration.