Fig. 8

Exogenous addition of WNT5A restored M1 morphology and cell proliferation. a Wnt5a and β-catenin mRNA expression levels in dental mesenchymal cells were evaluated by RT-qPCR after transfection of Prx1 siRNA (siPrx1), exogenous addition of WNT5A mimetic peptide ligand Foxy5 after Prx1 knockdown (siPrx1 + WNT5A) and negative control (siCTRL) (n = 3 per group). The error bar represents the standard deviation of the mean. ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.000 1, ns no statistical significance. b Pcna mRNA expression levels in dental mesenchymal cells were evaluated by RT-qPCR. (n = 3). *P < 0.05. c Confocal images of EdU labelled proliferating dental MSCs after transfection of Prx1 siRNA (siPrx1), Wnt5a siRNA (siWnt5a), exogenous addition of WNT5A mimetic peptide ligand Foxy5 after Prx1 knockdown (siPrx1 + WNT5A) and negative control (siCTRL) (n = 3 per group). Scale bar: 100 μm. d Quantification of EdU-positive cells in above four groups (n = 3). **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. e H&E staining of ex vivo cultured M1 germs at 9 days after transfection of Prx1 siRNA (siPrx1), exogenous addition of WNT5A mimetic peptide ligand Foxy5 after Prx1 knockdown (siPrx1 + WNT5A) and negative control (siCTRL). Scale bar: 100 μm. f Confocal images of EdU labelled proliferating cells in M1 germs at 9 days after transfection of Prx1 siRNA (siPrx1), exogenous addition of WNT5A mimetic peptide ligand Foxy5 after Prx1 knockdown (siPrx1 + WNT5A) and negative control (siCTRL) (n = 3 per group). The dotted line marks the boundary between epithelium and mesenchyme. epi epithelium, mes mesenchyme. Scale bar: 100 μm