Fig. 3

Effect of OCT4A on the odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs. A, B After 7, 14, and 21 days of odontogenic induction, LPS reduced the expression of the odontogenic-related genes ALP, OCN, DSPP and DMP-1 compared with the unstimulated cells. Overexpression of OCT4A promoted the expression of these genes in both the LPS-stimulated and nonstimulated groups (A), while knockdown of OCT4A decreased their expression compared with the vector groups (B). C, D After odontogenic induction for 21 days, the protein expression of DSPP and DMP-1 in each group showed a similar trend to their gene expression (C1 & D1: Representative bands of the protein expression of DSPP and DMP-1; C2 & D2: Quantitative analysis results of western blotting; Full-length blots are presented in Additional file 4). E The calcification nodule formation of hDPSCs was shown by Alizarin red staining (× 50). The LPS inflammatory stimulus reduced calcification nodule formation. The number and size of the mineral nodules in DPSCs with OCT4A overexpression were greater than those in the vector groups, while DPSCs with OCT4A knockdown exhibited the opposite result. *: compared with the vector group, P < 0.05; **: compared with the vector group, P < 0.01; ***: compared with the vector group, P < 0.001; ∆: compared with the LPS stimulation group, P < 0.05; ∆∆: compared with the LPS stimulation group, P < 0.01; ∆∆∆: compared with the LPS stimulation group, P < 0.001