Arbutin alleviates the inhibitory effect of LPS on osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells through the NF-κB signaling pathway

Objective To investigate the effect of arbutin (Arb) on osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) under inflammatory conditions and the mechanism of NF-κB signaling pathway in this process. Methods The effects of Arb on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs were analyzed by CCK-8, alkaline phosphatase staining, Alizarin Red staining, and Western blot. After establishing an inflammatory model using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the effect of Arb on the expression levels of inflammatory factors in hPDLSCs was analyzed by RT-qPCR. The effect of Arb on osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs was analyzed, and the effect of Arb on the NF-κB pathway was analyzed by Western blot. After adding the NF-κB signaling pathway activator PMA to the culture system, whether the effect of Arb on hPDLSCs changed was analyzed. Results 100 nmol/L Arb did not affect the proliferation of hPDLSCs, but significantly promoted cell osteogenic differentiation and inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors under LPS stimulation. Arb reduced the activation effect of LPS on the NF-κB signaling pathway and the inhibitory effect on cell osteogenic differentiation, while the efficacy of Arb was partially eliminated by PMA. Conclusion Arb alleviates the inhibitory effect of LPS on osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs by inhibiting NF-κB signaling.