Dental Follicle Stem Cells Promote Periodontal Regeneration through Periostin-Mediated Macrophage Infiltration and Reprogramming in an Inflammatory Microenvironment

Abstract

Dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) have been verified to promote periodontal regeneration in an inflammatory microenvironment. When coping with inflammatory stimulation, DFSCs highly express periostin, a bioactive molecule closely related to periodontal homeostasis. It is worth exploring whether and how periostin plays a role in the promotion of periodontal regeneration by DFSCs. By tracking the fate of DFSCs, it was found that DFSCs significantly contributed to periodontal regeneration in rat periodontal defects while they had a low survival rate. They highly expressed periostin and improved the immune microenvironment in the defect area, especially via the recruitment and reprogramming of macrophages. Silencing periostin attenuated the effects of DFSCs in promoting periodontal regeneration and regulating macrophages. Recombinant human periostin (rhPeriostin) could not only directly promote macrophage reprogramming through the integrin αM/phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-Erk)/Erk signaling pathway, but it also exhibited the potential to promote periodontal regeneration in rats when loaded in a collagen matrix. These results indicated that periostin is actively involved in the process by which DFSCs promote periodontal regeneration through the regulation of macrophages and is a promising molecular agent to promote periodontal regeneration. This study provides new insight into the mechanism by which DFSCs promote periodontal regeneration and suggests a new approach for periodontal regeneration therapy.

The Unknown Role of Periostin in Psoriatic Epidermal Hyperplasia

“…It has been confirmed that overexpression of POSTN in cancer promotes metastasis and cell survival by activating the Akt/PKB pathway. POSTN, through the induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9, MMP-10 and MMP-13), drives the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), resulting in matrix degradation and facilitating local tumor spread [5,6].…”

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Soft Tissue Regenerative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review

“…Periostin, a potent biomolecule for periodontitis homeostasis, is shown to be highly expressed by DFSCs and plays an important role in DFSCs’ osteogenic abilities [ 65 ]. DFSCs have been validated to stimulate periodontal regeneration in an inflammatory microenvironment through the regulation of macrophages via human recombinant periostin loaded into the collagen matrix [ 66 ].…”

Bone Regeneration Facilitated by Autologous Bioscaffold Material: Liquid Phase of Concentrated Growth Factor with Dental Follicle Stem Cell Loading

“…Derived from the dental follicle, dental follicle stem cells (DFCs) possess pluripotency, capable of differentiating into periodontal ligament cells, osteoblasts, and odontoblasts. − Comparable immunomodulatory and osteogenic properties observed in both freshly isolated and cryopreserved DFCs suggest robust cellular resilience . During osteogenic differentiation, DFCs maintain a consistent expression of osteogenic transcription factors, enhanced mineral deposition, and an upregulation of osteogenic markers. , DFCs aid periodontal repair through osteopontin (OPN)-mediated processes in inflammation . They also restore regenerative capabilities to periodontal ligament stem cells under inflammatory conditions .…”