The role of long noncoding RNA THAP9-AS1 in the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells via the miR-652-3p/VEGFA axis

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are multipotent and may play crucial roles in dentin-pulp regeneration. Recent studies have revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in the osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs. However, the specific role and potential mechanisms of the lncRNA trihydroxyacetophenone domain containing nine antisense RNA 1 (THAP9-AS1) during osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs remain unknown. In the present study, we determined that THAP9-AS1 expression was upregulated during osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs. Moreover, we investigated the biological functions of THAP9-AS1 during osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs by loss-of-function assays. THAP9-AS1 knockdown inhibited osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs by decreasing alkaline phosphatase activity, alkaline phosphatase-positive cell ratio, mineralizing matrix and mRNA, and protein levels of early osteogenic-markers. We also found that THAP9-AS1 interacted with miR-652-3p, whose downstream gene target is vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). In addition, rescue assays indicated that VEGFA rescued the effects of THAP9-AS1 knockdown during osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs. In summary, we verified that knockdown of THAP9-AS1 inhibits osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs via the miR-652-3p/VEGFA axis. Our findings may be helpful to extend research on the mechanisms underlying osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs.