Naringin Promotes Osteogenic/Odontogenic Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells via Wnt/β-Catenin

PURPOSE: This investigation intended to unravel the effect and mechanism of naringin on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). METHODS: hDPSCs were induced to differentiate, and the degree of cell differentiation was observed by alizarin red staining, Oil Red O staining, and Alcian blue staining. hDPSCs were treated with 0, 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L naringin for 48 h, respectively. The proliferation rate and chemotaxis of the cells were measured by MTT and transwell assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteogenic differentiation degree by ALP staining and alizarin red staining, and gene expression of osteogenic markers by qRT-PCR. Additionally, western blot was performed to test the levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related proteins in hDPSCs. RESULTS: The isolated hDPSCs with spindle-shaped morphology had good differentiation capability. Further experiments confirmed naringin-caused increases in the proliferation rate and migration ability of hDPSCs. In addition, compared with the control group, naringin-treated cells had strong ALP activity and ossification levels and higher expression of Runx2, OPN, DSPP, and DMP1. The western blot results showed that naringin significantly activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hDPSCs. CONCLUSION: Taken together, naringin enhances the proliferation, migration, and osteogenesis of hDPSCs through stimulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.