EZH2, via an association with KDM2B, modulates osteogenic differentiation of root apical papillary stem cells

Figure 2 Overexpression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 enhances osteo/dentinogenic differentiation potential of human apical papillary stem cells. A: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) was overexpressed in human apical papillary stem cells (hSCAPs); B: Western blot analysis confirmed overexpression of EZH2 in hSCAPs; C: Overexpression of EZH2 increased alkaline phosphatase activity in hSCAPs; D and E: Alizarin red staining and quantitative calcium analysis results demonstrated that overexpression of EZH2 enhanced mineralization in hSCAPs; F-H: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that overexpression of EZH2 upregulated mRNA expression levels of bone sialoprotein (F), dentin sialophosphoprotein (G), and osteocalcin (H) in hSCAPs; I: Hematoxylin-eosin staining and quantitative measurement showed that overexpression of EZH2 promoted bone/dentin-like tissue formation. Scale bar = 100 μm (B: Bone/dentin-like tissues; HA: Hydroxyapatite tricalcium carrier; CT: Connective tissue); J: Immunohistochemical staining and quantitative analysis of dentin sialophosphoprotein and bone sialoprotein. GAPDH and ACTB were used as the internal controls. Data are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 3). Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test. ^aP ≤ 0.05, ^bP ≤ 0.01, ^cP ≤ 0.001. EZH2: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2; BSP: Bone sialoprotein; DSPP: Dentin sialophosphoprotein; OCN: Osteocalcin.