Study on Mechanism of Baicalin Regulating Proliferation and Angiogenesis of Dental Pulp Stem Cells through PI3K/AKT Signaling Axis

doi:10.13701/j.cnki.kqyxyj.2026.02.008

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To explore the effect of baicalin on the proliferation and angiogenesis of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC), and to investigate the regulatory mechanism of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signal axis in this process. Methods: Human DPSC were cultured and divided into the control group (complete medium), the 10 μmol/L group, the 20 μmol/L group, the 50 μmol/L group, and the 100 μmol/L group (complete medium + different concentrations of baicalin) according to the concentration of baicalin. The effect of different concentrations of baicalin on the viability of DPSC was observed. The changes of the PI3K/AKT signaling axis were further explored. Meanwhile, LY294002 (a PI3K/AKT inhibitor) was added to the 50 μmol/L group to observe its regulatory effect on the proliferation and angiogenesis of DPSC. Results: Baicalin could enhance the activity of DPSC, inhibit their apoptosis, and the effect was more obvious in the 50 μmol/L group (P<0.05). Compared with other groups, the expressions of PI3K, AKT mRNA, p-PI3K/PI3K, and p-AKT/AKT in the 50 μmol/L group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the 50 μmol/L group, the proliferation ability of DPSC in the 50 μmol/L+LY294002 group was significantly weakened and the number of migrations was significantly reduced. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were significantly decreased. Conclusion: Baicalein can promote the proliferation and angiogenesis of DPSC. This process is related to the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the increased expression levels of VEGF and Ang-2, providing theoretical support for the application of baicalein in DPSC.

Key words: baicalin, dental pulp stem cells, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, regulatory mechanism

CHENG Gang, WU Xiuyin, LI Yuexiu, MI Jing, WU Qishan. Study on Mechanism of Baicalin Regulating Proliferation and Angiogenesis of Dental Pulp Stem Cells through PI3K/AKT Signaling Axis[J]. Journal of Oral Science Research, 2026, 42(2): 126-133.

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