Fig. 3

miR-7 inhibited osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. a Images of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining in the miR-NC, miR-7 mimics, and miR-7 inhibitor groups (top row). Cells were cultured in growth medium (GM) or osteogenic medium (OM) for 7 days. Images of alizarin red S (ARS) staining for mineralized matrix in the miR-NC, miR-7 mimics, and miR-7 inhibitor groups (bottom row). Cells were cultured in GM or OM for 14 days. Histograms show ALP activity (left panel) and quantification of ARS staining (right panel) by spectrophotometry (normalized to the microRNA normal control (miR-NC) groups). b The efficiency of transient transduction of miR-7 mimics and miR-7 inhibitor (left panel), and relative mRNA expression of ALP (middle panel) and RUNX2 (right panel) measured by qRT-PCR at day 3 of osteogenic induction. GAPDH was used for normalization relative to miR-NC groups. c Western blot analysis of protein expression of RUNX2 and the internal control β-ACTIN at day 3 of osteogenic induction. The histogram shows the quantification of band intensities. β-ACTIN was used for normalization relative to miR-NC groups. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001. RUNX2 Runt-related transcription factor 2