Role of Transcription Factor SP3 in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells

doi:10.13701/j.cnki.kqyxyj.2026.03.009

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the role of the transcription factor SP3 in the osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) in vitro. Methods: hDPSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro, and their multipotent differentiation potential was identified through induction of multilineage differentiation. The expression pattern of SP3 was analyzed using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). SP3 expression was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection, followed by osteogenic induction. The osteogenic differentiation potential was analyzed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red S (ARS) staining, as well as by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis for osteogenic markers including runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and osteopontin (OPN). Results: SP3 expression was found to increase in a time-dependent fashion during the osteogenic induction process of hDPSCs. Knockdown of SP3 in hDPSCs significantly reduced ALP and ARS staining and downregulated the expression of RUNX2 and OPN. Conclusion: Suppression of SP3 expression inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs.

Key words: specificity protein 3, human dental pulp stem cells, osteogenic differentiation

XIAO Shuang, LI Jiong, LIU Xinyang, SONG Shuai, ZHANG Li, ZHANG Jie. Role of Transcription Factor SP3 in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells[J]. Journal of Oral Science Research, 2026, 42(3): 225-229.

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