Quercetin reverses TNF-α induced osteogenic damage to human periodontal ligament stem cells by suppressing the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway

Quercetin (Quer) is a typical antioxidant flavonoid from plants that is involved in bone metabolism, as well as in the progression of inflammatory diseases. Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a typical pro-inflammatory cytokine, can affect osteogenesis. In the present study, TNF-α was used to establish an in vitro model of periodontitis. The effects of Quer on, as well as its potential role in the osteogenic response of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) under TNF-α-induced inflammatory conditions and the underlying mechanisms were then investigated. Within the appropriate concentration range, Quer did not exhibit any cytotoxicity. More importantly, Quer significantly attenuated the TNF-α induced the suppression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralized matrix in the hPDLSCs. These findings were associated with the fact that Quer inhibited the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as the expression of NLRP3 inflammation-associated proteins in the inflammatory microenvironment. Moreover, the silencing of NLRP3 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) was found to protect the hPDLSCs against TNF-α-induced osteogenic damage, which was in accordance with the effects of Quer. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that Quer reduces the impaired osteogenesis of hPDLSCs under TNF-α-induced inflammatory conditions by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Thus, Quer may prove to be a potential remedy against periodontal bone defects.