All-trans retinoic acid inhibits the osteogenesis of periodontal ligament stem cells by promoting IL-1β production via NF-κB signaling.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a main derivative of vitamin A, has been shown to affect the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) possess characteristics of MSC and show strong potential for use in periodontal tissue restoration. However, the effect of ATRA on the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs remains unclear. In this study, we explored the effect of ATRA on the PDLSCs osteogenic differentiation. PDLSCs were harvested from the periodontalmembrane and treated with or without ATRA. CCK-8 and cell cycle analysis were used to evaluate PDLSC proliferation. PDLSC migration was assessed by scratch tests. qRT-PCR, western blotting, alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining and calcium quantification were performed to estimate the PDLSCs osteogenic differentiation capability and RNA sequencing to select differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Expression and activation of signaling elements were assessed by qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Finally, we discovered that ATRA repressed the migration, proliferation, and osteogenesis ability of PDLSCs. RNA sequencing revealed 493 DEGs. Levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were increased at varied time points after ATRA treatment. The inhibitive influence of ATRA on the osteogenesis of PDLSCs was partially reversed after neutralizing IL-1β. In addition, IL-1β levels were significantly attenuated by nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor BAY11-7082 and NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ATRA disrupts the osteogenesis and mineralizationof PDLSCs by promoting IL-1β expression via activating NF-κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome, which may offer a new method for improving the ATRA-induced disruption of osteoblast differentiation.