Abstract
CircularRNAs (circRNAs) are collectively involved in periodontitis. The aim of this study was to explore the roles of circ_0062491 in osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs and provide a novel method for periodontitis treatment. mRNA and protein expression levels were measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red S (ARS) staining were used to detect the activity of osteogenesis. Furthermore, the interactions between miR-142-5p and circ_0062491/IGF1 were verified by a luciferase reporter assay. circ_0062491 was suppressed in PDL tissues of periodontitis patients and overexpressed in osteogenesis-induced PDLSCs. Upregulated circ_0062491 promoted osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. miR-142-5p was verified to be a target of circ_0062491, and the overexpression of miR-142-5p suppressed the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs induced by circ_0062491 Additionally, miR-142-5p targeted IGF1, and silenced IGF1 abrogated the effects of suppressed miR-142-5p on osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. In conclusion, circ_0062491 acted as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs via the miR-142-5p/IGF1 axis.