Sex as a biological variable in human dental pulp stem cells: An exploratory epigenomic and transcriptomic comparison
Shuntaro Yamada1,2, Kateřina Holomková1,3,4, Niyaz Al-Sharabi1
1Center of Translational Oral Research, Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Regenerative Therapy
|April 30, 2026
Summary
Sex does not significantly alter human dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) epigenomics or transcriptomics at baseline. Differences are mainly on sex chromosomes, offering a molecular baseline for future DPSC research.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Epigenetics
- Genomics
Background:
- Human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are crucial for regenerative medicine.
- Understanding sex-based molecular differences in DPSCs is vital for personalized therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-specific differences in baseline epigenomic and transcriptional profiles of DPSCs.
- To assess sex dependence of key markers related to DPSC growth and stemness.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling using Illumina Methylation EPIC v2.0.
- Bulk RNA sequencing on Illumina NovaSeq X Plus.
- Targeted RT-qPCR array for proliferation, stemness, MSC identity, and signaling pathway markers.
Main Results:
- Global epigenomic and transcriptomic differences between male and female DPSCs were minimal and primarily confined to sex chromosomes.
- Males showed mild autosomal hypermethylation; females exhibited marked X-chromosome hypermethylation with XIST expression.
- Transcriptomic analysis revealed few differentially expressed genes, mostly on sex chromosomes.
Conclusions:
- Baseline DNA methylation and transcriptional profiles of DPSCs are largely similar between sexes under standard culture conditions.
- Limited sex-dependent molecular differences observed are predominantly associated with sex chromosomes.
- These findings establish a foundational molecular baseline for DPSCs, guiding future context-specific research.
Keywords:
Biological sexDental stem cellsEpigeneticsMesenchymal stem cellsRegenerative medicineTranscriptomeMore Related Videos
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