Thymosin Α1 Inhibiting Ferroptosis Of Dental Pulp Cells In Pulpitis

This study aimed to uncover the role of ferroptosis in pulpitis and assess whether thymosin α1 could alleviate pulpitis by inhibiting ferroptosis in dental pulp cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was carried out on 3 healthy and 3 pulpitis dental pulp tissues to analyze cell heterogeneity and ferroptosis-related gene expression. Dental pulp cells (DPCs) were isolated and cultured. In vitro, LPS-stimulated DPCs were treated with thymosin α1, and cell proliferation, ferroptosis-related protein expression, and inflammatory factor levels were measured. Lentiviral transfection was used to silence the PTMA gene in DPCs. In vivo, a rat pulpitis model was established and treated with PTMA. Immunohistochemical staining, Fe²⁺ and ROS assays were performed. RNA-seq was conducted on LPS-stimulated DPCs with or without thymosin α1 treatment. scRNA-seq identified 12 cell clusters and showed ferroptosis-related gene differences between healthy and pulpitis pulp. In vitro, thymosin α1 promoted DPC proliferation, increased GPX4 and FTL expression, decreased PTGS2 and Fe²⁺ and ROS levels, and reduced inflammatory factor expression. In vivo, PTMA treatment in rats alleviated pulpitis, decreased Fe²⁺ and ROS levels, increased GPX4 expression, and decreased PTGS2 expression. RNA-seq indicated that thymosin α1 reversed the expression of ferroptosis-related genes in LPS-stimulated DPCs. Ferroptosis occurs in pulpitis, and thymosin α1 can inhibit ferroptosis in DPCs, potentially alleviating pulpitis. However, its impact on immune cells in pulpitis requires further investigation.