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Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Isolation and Enrichment of Human Adipose-derived Stromal Cells for Enhanced Osteogenesis
Published on: January 12, 2015
ASXL2 Modulates Chromatin Remodeling to Direct Osteogenesis and Multiple Cell Fate in hPDLSCs
Tianle Yang1, Ying Zhou2, Ruohui Han3
1School and Hospital of Stomatology, Hebei Medical University & Hebei Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Hebei Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Provience, PR China; Department of Endodontics, Tianjin Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral Soft and Hard Tissues Restoration and Regeneration, Tianjin, PR China.
Aims:
This study investigates the epigenetic role of Additional Sex Combs-Like 2 (ASXL2) in regulating osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), aiming to address limitations in current strategies for oral and maxillofacial tissue regeneration.
Methods:
Lentiviral-mediated ASXL2 knockdown in hPDLSCs was validated by flow cytometry. Functional impacts were assessed through proliferation/apoptosis assays, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Alizarin Red mineralization, and qPCR/Western blot analyses of osteogenic markers (RUNX2, ALP, COL1A1, OCN). Global histone modification dynamics (H2AK119ub, H3K27me3, H3K4me3) were detected to elucidate epigenetic mechanisms.
Results:
ASXL2 depletion enhanced hPDLSC proliferation and reduced apoptosis, but critically impaired osteogenic differentiation, evidenced by suppressed ALP activity and mineralization. Global downregulation of osteogenic markers is correlated with altered chromatin states: decreased activating H3K4me3 and increased repressive H2AK119ub/H3K27me3.
Conclusion:
ASXL2 modulates the osteogenic competency of hPDLSCs through epigenetic regulation, wherein its loss disrupts transcriptional accessibility by skewing histone modification balance: suppressing H3K4me3-mediated activation while amplifying H2AK119ub/H3K27me3-dependent repression to downregulate specific osteogenic genes.
Clinical Relevance:
ASXL2 emerges as a pivotal epigenetic target for craniofacial regeneration. Strategic modulation of ASXL2 activity may optimize hPDLSC-based therapies to restore masticatory, pronunciation, and aesthetic functions.
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