Journal: International Journal of Molecular Medicine
Article Title: TWEAK modulates the characteristics of periodontal ligament stem cells via the Fn14/NF-κB pathway
doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2025.5679
Figure Lengend Snippet: Inhibition of the TWEAK/Fn14/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway enhances the functional properties of iPDLSCs. (A) Expression profile of surface markers in iPDLSCs quantified using flow cytometry. (B) Levels of TWEAK, Fn14, NF-κB, P-NF-κB and NLRP3 in PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after the downregulation of Fn14, NF-κB and NLRP3, and (C) statistical analysis of the band density values (n=3). (D) Apoptosis levels in PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after downregulation of Fn14, NF-κB and NLRP3 were detected using the TUNEL assay, and (E) statistical analysis of the average fluorescence intensity of TUNEL was performed (n=5). Scale bar, 200 μ m. (F) A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to assess the proliferative potential of PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after the downregulation of Fn14, NF-κB and NLRP3, and (G) statistical analysis of the OD450 values on day 5 of the experiment was performed (n=6). (H) Transwell migration assay evaluating the migratory potential of PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after Fn14, NF-κB or NLRP3 downregulation, with (I) quantification of the number of migrated cells (n=6). Scale bar, 400 μ m. (J) Wound healing assay evaluating the migratory potential of PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after Fn14, NF-κB or NLRP3 downregulation, with (K) quantification of the percentage of wound closure (%) (n=16). Scale bar, 1 mm. (L) ALP staining was used to evaluate the mineralization potential of PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after downregulation of Fn14, NF-κB or NLRP3, with (M) quantification of the integral optical density of the ALP-stained images (n=6). Scale bar, 400 μ m. (N) Alizarin Red staining was used to evaluate the mineralization potential of PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after downregulation of Fn14, NF-κB or NLRP3, with (O) quantification of the integral optical density of the Alizarin Red-stained images (n=6). Scale bar, 400 μ m. (P) Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of RUNX2 , SP7 , ALP and OPG in PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after the downregulation of Fn14, NF-κB and NLRP3 (n=4). (Q) Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of RUNX2, SP7, ALP and OPG in PDLSCs, iPDLSCs, and iPDLSCs after the downregulation of Fn14, NF-κB and NLRP3, and (R) statistical analysis of the band density values was performed (n=3). Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA. * P<0.05; ** P<0.01; *** P<0.001; **** P<0.0001. Data are presented as the mean ± SD. ALP, alkaline phosphatase; Fn14, fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14; IOD, integral optical density; iPDLSC, inflammatory PDLSC; NLRP3, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3; ns, not significant; OD450, optical density at 450 nm; OPG, osteoprotegerin; P-, phosphorylated; PDLSC, periodontal ligament stem cell; RUNX2, runt-related transcription factor 2; sh, short hairpin RNA; SP7, Sp7 transcription factor; TWEAK, tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis.
Article Snippet: The following antibodies were used for western blotting: Rabbit anti-Fn14 antibody (cat. no. bs-2493R; BIOSS), rabbit anti-NF-κB p65 (D14E12) antibody (cat. no. 8242; Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.), rabbit anti-phospho-NFκB p65 (Ser536) antibody (cat. no. 3033; Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.), rabbit anti-NLRP3 antibody (cat. no. bs-41293R; BIOSS), mouse anti-RUNX2 antibody (cat. no. ab76956; Abcam), rabbit anti-Sp7/Osterix antibody [ EPR21034 ] (cat. no. ab209484; Abcam), rabbit anti-OPG antibody (cat. no. ab73400; Abcam), mouse anti-ALP antibody [2F4] (cat. no. ab126820; Abcam), rabbit anti-TWEAK antibody (cat. no. PK93318; Abmart Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd.), mouse anti-β-actin antibody (cat. no. T200068-8F10; ZENBIO Biotechnology Co., Ltd.), goat anti-mouse IgG H&L (HRP) (cat. no. 511103; ZENBIO Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) and goat anti-rabbit IgG H&L (HRP) (cat. no. 511203; ZENBIO Biotechnology Co., Ltd.).
Techniques: Inhibition, Functional Assay, Expressing, Flow Cytometry, TUNEL Assay, Fluorescence, Cell Counting, Transwell Migration Assay, Wound Healing Assay, Staining, Reverse Transcription, Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Western Blot, shRNA
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