Exosomes Loaded With MiR-21 Promote Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Into Endothelial Cells
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Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Isolation, Characterization and MicroRNA-based Genetic Modification of Human Dental Follicle Stem Cells
Published on: November 16, 2018
Peihui Li1, Shuang Zhang1, Weiwei Zhang2
1Department of Endodontics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China; Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China.
Objectives:
This study utilized human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as vector cells to examine the impact of miR-21 on the vascular differentiation of Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) in recipient cells. MiR-21 was transfected into HUVECs to modulate the levels of miR-21 in exosomes and explore associated molecular signalling mechanisms.
Materials And Methods:
Various groups of conditioned media were prepared to culture hDPSCs based on the differential expression of miR-21 in exosomes. Subsequently, cellular proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenic capabilities were assessed. Target genes of miR-21 were validated via dual luciferase assay, along with the examination of downstream signalling pathways.
Results:
Both HUVECs-exos and overexpression groups markedly enhanced the adhesion, proliferation, migration, and angiogenic abilities of hDPSCs. However, the overexpression group exhibited a more pronounced promotional effect compared to the HUVECs-exos group, while the inhibition group showed no statistically significant differences. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the targeting linkage between miR-21 and JAG1, indicating that changes in miR-21 levels in hDPSCs impacted the expression of the JAG1/NOTCH1/VEGF signalling pathway.
Conclusion:
HUVEC-derived exosomes with elevated miR-21 levels promote adhesion, proliferation, migration and in vitro capillary-like tube formation in hDPSCs. MiR-21 modulates hDPSCs' in vitro angiogenic phenotypes via targeting JAG1 and subsequently activating the JAG1/NOTCH1/VEGF signalling pathway.
