2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (24): 3910-3919

Effects of different signaling pathways on osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells

Fu Qiuyue, Lan Xingming, Xu Rongwei, Wang Hao, Yang Kun   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Periodontal membrane stem cells, as a kind of odontogenic mesenchymal stem cells, have osteogenic differentiation potential and can be applied to periodontal tissue regeneration and repair, while the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells involves the regulation of multiple signaling pathways.  
OBJECTIVE: To review the factor-mediated signaling pathways associated with osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells and their effects on osteogenic differentiation.
METHODS: In PubMed and CNKI, the search time was set from 2010 to 2022. The research progress of eight major signaling pathways associated with osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells since 2010 was summarized. Finally, 60 articles were included for analysis and discussion.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Periodontal membrane stem cells, as odontogenic mesenchymal stem cells, have the characteristics of good proliferation, self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation potential. As seed cells for periodontal tissue regeneration and restoration, periodontal membrane stem cells have broad prospects for the treatment of periodontitis. (2) At present, a large number of studies have confirmed that the potential relationship between various factors and periodontal membrane stem cell osteogenic differentiation is generated by mediating each signaling pathway. Although each signaling pathway has a certain role in promoting the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells, the most studied is the MAPK signaling pathway and the Wnt signaling pathway. (3) The MAPK signaling pathway includes four pathways, which are widely present in cells and play an important role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. The classic Wnt/β-catenin pathway is one of the most important signaling pathways for controlling bone homeostasis, and numerous studies have confirmed its association with osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells. (4) At present, most of the current research has only confirmed through in vitro mineralization experiments that certain factors can activate the MAPK signaling pathway and the classic Wnt/β-catenin pathway, improve the expression of mineralization genes, and thus promote the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells, but further research is needed on how these pathways are activated and the specific mechanisms of this pathway affecting the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells. (5) The activation or inhibition of various signaling pathways mediated by different research factors significantly affected the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells. Understanding the signaling pathways associated with osteogenic differentiation of periodontal membrane stem cells will facilitate the application of periodontal membrane stem cells to periodontal tissue regeneration, thereby effectively reducing tooth loss due to periodontitis.

Key words: periodontal membrane stem cell, osteogenic differentiation, signaling pathway, periodontitis, periodontal tissue, regenerative restoration, tissue engineering, review