Erythropoietin attenuates high glucose-induced oxidative stress and inhibition of osteogenic differentiation in periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSCs).

Diabetes mellitus and periodontitis have long been considered to be biologically linked. Erythropoietin (EPO) has multiple biological functions, such as stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells and reducing glucose-induced oxidative stress via different mechanisms, acting as a direct antioxidant. The purposes of the study to examine the anti-oxidative effect of EPO on reducing high glucose-induced oxidative stress of hPDLSCs and provide a better understanding of the mechanism of these processes. PDLSCs were induced by highglucose (HG, 30 mM) in the presence or absence of EPO. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. The reactiveoxygen species (ROS) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected to evaluate oxidative stress. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to examine the expression of osteogenic related genes and protein (Runx2 and Osterix). Alizarin Red-S staining was used to detect mineralized nodule formation. The results showed that EPO promote the proliferation of PDLSCs, which was suppressed by high glucose (30 mM). Moreover, EPO attenuated high glucose (30 mM) induced oxidative stress by reducing the levels of ROS and MDA, and increasing the SOD activity. Furthermore,EPO alleviate high glucose(30 mM) induced suppression of osteogenic differentiation ability in PDLSCs, as evidenced by the up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of Runx2 and Osterix and increased ALP activity. In conclusion, EPO attenuates high glucose-induced oxidative stress, inhibitory effect of proliferation and inhibition of osteogenic differentiation in periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSCs).