EGR1 promotes osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells by activating the lnc-HCG11/Wnt/β-catenin pathway

[Objective:] To investigate the effect of early growth response gene 1 (EGR1) on osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) by regulating long non-coding RNA human leukocyte antigen complex group 11 (lnc-HCG11) and wingless/β-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin) pathway. [Methods:] The expression levels of EGR1 and lnc-HCG11 were changed in hPDLSCs through gene overexpression and interference assays, while the activation level of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was altered by the β-catenin inhibitor IWR-1. Subsequently, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting experiments were conducted to validate the intervention effect. After osteogenic induction, RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of osteogenic genes runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), collagen type Ⅰα 1 (COL1A1), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), and alizarin red staining was used to detect the mineralization level of cells. [Results:] The overexpression of EGR1 was observed to promote the expression of lnc-HCG11 in hPDLSCs, while the overexpression of lnc-HCG11 promoted the expression levels of RUNX2, COL1A1, OPN, OCN, and mineralization in hPDLSCs. The pro-osteogenic effect of EGR1 was inhibited by silencing lnc-HCG11, while treatment with IWR-1 suppressed the expression of active β-catenin and weakened the pro-osteogenic effect of lnc-HCG11 on hPDLSCs. [Conclusion:] EGR1 promotes osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs by activating the lnc-HCG11/Wnt/β-catenin pathway.