Yes-associated protein-mediated melatonin regulates the function of periodontal ligament stem cells under oxidative stress conditions

Figure 3 Hydrogen peroxide inhibited stemness and promoted senescence in periodontal ligament stem cells. A: Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) inhibited the expression level of stemness-related proteins C-MYC, OCT-4, and NANOG in periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs); B: H₂O₂ suppressed the expression levels of stemness-related genes C-MYC, OCT-4, and NANOG in PDLSCs; C: Alkaline phosphatase staining and alkaline phosphatase activity showed that the osteogenic differentiation ability of the H₂O₂-induced PDLSCs was weaker than that of the control group; D: Alizarin Red staining and quantitative analysis showed that the osteogenic differentiation ability of the H₂O₂-induced PDLSCs was weaker than that of the control group; E: Senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining indicated significantly more senescence-associated β-galactosidase-positive cells in H₂O₂-induced PDLSCs compared with the control group; F: Western blot results showed that H₂O₂ inhibited the expression of p-RB but increased the expression of p21 in PDLSCs. Data are presented as mean ± SD, n = 3. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01; ^cP < 0.001; ^dP < 0.0001. NC: Negative control; H₂O₂: Hydrogen peroxide; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; SA β-gal: Senescence-associated β-galactosidase.