Wnt3α and transforming growth factor-β induce myofibroblast differentiation from periodontal ligament cells via different pathways.
Myofibroblasts are specialized cells that play a key role in connective tissue remodeling and reconstruction. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin and tenascin-C are myofibroblast phenotype, while α-SMA is the phenotypic marker. The observation that human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) differentiate into myofibroblasts under orthodontic force has provided a new perspective for understanding of the biological and biomechanical mechanisms involved in orthodontic tooth movement. However, the cell-specific molecular mechanisms leading to myofibroblast differentiation in the periodontal ligament (PDL) remain unclear. In this study, we found that expression of Wnt3α, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), α-SMA and tenascin-C increased in both tension and compression regions of the PDL under orthodontic load compared with unloaded control, suggesting that upregulated Wnt3α and TGF-β1 signaling might have roles in myofibroblast differentiation in response to orthodontic force. We reveal in vitro that both Wnt3α and TGF-β1 promote myofibroblast differentiation from hPDLCs. Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) impairs Wnt3α-induced myofibroblast differentiation in a β-catenin-dependent manner. TGF-β1 stimulates myofibroblast differentiation via a JNK-dependent mechanism. DKK1 has no significant effect on TGF-β1-induced myofibroblastic phenotype.
['Xu|Hui|H|', 'He|Yao|Y|', 'Feng|Jian Q|JQ|', 'Shu|Rui|R|', 'Liu|Zhe|Z|', 'Li|Jingyu|J|', 'Wang|Yating|Y|', 'Xu|Yang|Y|', 'Zeng|Huan|H|', 'Xu|Xin|X|', 'Xiang|Zichao|Z|', 'Xue|Chaoran|C|', 'Bai|Ding|D|', 'Han|Xianglong|X|']
D000199:Actins D002454:Cell Differentiation D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental D006801:Humans D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins D058628:Myofibroblasts D010513:Periodontal Ligament D015398:Signal Transduction D019063:Tenascin D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta D014746:Vimentin D060509:Wnt3A Protein D051176:beta Catenin
Wnt3α Transforming growth factor-β Myofibroblast Dickkopf-1 α-smooth muscle actin