ABSTRACT
Objective @#To study the regulatory effect of coiled-coil domain containing 134 (CCDC134) on the osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs).@*Methods @# HDPSCs were isolated and cultured from dental pulp tissue and transfected with NC-CCDC134, shCCDC134 and CCDC134 lentiviruses. They were divided into the control group, negative control group, CCDC134 downregulation (shCCDC134) group and CCDC134 overexpression (CCDC134) group. Surface markers of hDPSCs (Stro-1, CD105, CD34, CD45) were detected by flow cytometry; colony formation was analyzed by toluidine blue staining; ALP expression was estimated by ALP staining; mineralized nodule formation was evaluated by alizarin red staining; lipid droplet formation was examined by oil red staining; and gene and protein expression of CCDC134, Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin (OCN), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1 (SMAD1) was detected by qPCR and western blot, respectively. Further, a BMP-2 activator (BMP-2) and inhibitor (Dorsomorphin) were used to down-regulate and up-regulate CCDC134, respectively (shCCDC134, shCCDC134+BMP-2, CCDC134, CCDC134+Dorsomorphin), in hDPSCs. The hDPSC aggregates were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice for 2 months, and new bone formation was detected by H&E staining. The BMP-2/SMAD1 signaling in each group was detected by qPCR.@*Results@#hDPSCs showed high expression of mesenchymal markers and low expression of hematopoietic markers. Compared with the control group, the expression of CCDC134 was increased in the osteogenic-induced hDPSCs (P < 0.05). Compared with the negative control group, the expression of CCDC134 was decreased in the shCCDC134 group, whereas it was increased in the CCDC134 group (P < 0.05). The mineralized nodules, osteogenic genes and proteins in the shCCDC134 group were decreased (P < 0.05), while they were increased in the CCDC134 group (P < 0.05). The expression of BMP-2/SMAD1 signaling decreased in the shCCDC134 group, while it increased in the CCDC134 group (P < 0.05). Compared to the shCCDC134 group, osteogenic genes and proteins increased in the shCCDC134+BMP-2 group, and subcutaneous new bone formation increased in nude mice (P < 0.05). The indexes of the CCDC134+Dorsomorphin group decreased compared with the CCDC134 group (P < 0.05).@*Conclusion@#CCDC134 promotes the osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs by regulating the BMP-2/SMAD1 signaling pathway.