Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the effects of silencing peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)on the directional differentiation of human stem cells from apical papilla (hSCAPs). Methods Expression level of PGC-1α was detected by qRT-PCR after SCAPs were cultured in mineralized induction solution for 0, 3 and 7 days. HSCAPs with low expression of PGC-1α were constructed stably by siRNA transfection, and the knockdown efficiency of PGC-1α was verified by qRT-PCR and Western blot.Further, the effects of silencing PGC-1α on the directional differentiation of hSCAPs were observed by alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining and qRT-PCR. Results The expression level of PGC-1α was gradually up-regulated during the directional differentiation of hSCAPs, and hSCAPs with low expression of PGC-1α was successfully constructed. As compared with the control group,the expression level of indicators related with osteo/odontogenic differentiation in hSCAPs silencing PGC-1α were downregulated, mineralized nodules decreased, and the expression of alkaline phosphatase decreased. Conclusion Silencing PGC-1αcan inhibit the directional differentiation capacity of hSCAPs.

Key words: peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α , human stem cells from apical papilla, RNA interference, odonto/osteogenic differentiation