Analyses of key mRNAs and lncRNAs for different osteo‐differentiation potentials of periodontal ligament stem cell and gingival mesenchymal stem cell

Both human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (hGMSCs) are candidate seed cells for bone tissue engineering, but the osteo-differentiation ability of the latter is weaker than the former, and the mechanisms are unknown. To explore the potential regulation of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), this study obtained the gene expression profiles of hPDLSCs and hGMSCs in both undifferentiated and osteo-differentiated conditions by microarray assay and then analysed the common and specific differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs in hPDLSCs and hGMSCs through bioinformatics method. The results showed that 275 mRNAs and 126 lncRNAs displayed similar changing patterns in hPDLSCs and hGMSCs after osteogenic induction, which may regulate the osteo-differentiation in both types of cells. In addition, the expression of 223 mRNAs and 238 lncRNAs altered only in hPDLSCs after osteogenic induction, and 177 mRNAs and 170 lncRNAs changed only in hGMSCs. These cell-specific differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs could underlie the different osteo-differentiation potentials of hPDLSCs and hGMSCs. Finally, dickkopf Wnt signalling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1) was proved to be one regulator for the weaker osteo-differentiation ability of hGMSCs through validation experiments. We hope these results help to reveal new mRNAs-lncRNAs-based molecular mechanism for osteo-differentiation of hPDLSCs and hGMSCs and provide clues on strategies for improving stem cell-mediated bone regeneration.