Betaine promotes the osteogenic differentiation of SCAPs via inhibiting NUMB

  • Tissue Cell. 2025 Sep 15:98:103142. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2025.103142.
Meiyue Wang  1 ,  Jiaman Zhu  2 ,  Xiaoyu Zheng  1 ,  Zejie Wu  1 ,  Runtao Gao  3
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Stomatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
  • 2. Department of Stomatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China; Beijing Huairou Hospital, Stomatology Department, Beijing 101400, China.
  • 3. Department of Stomatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 40974710 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2025.103142
Abstract

Betaine, a known modulator of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation, has demonstrated potential in enhancing osteogenesis. However, its specific role in the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that betaine (10 mM) significantly enhanced the osteogenesis of SCAPs, as evidenced by increased ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation (p < 0.05). Betaine downregulated NUMB expression, a negative regulator of osteogenic differentiation, during the induction process. Overexpression of NUMB counteracted the promotive effects of betaine on SCAPs osteogenesis and NUMB knockdown enhances betaine effects. These findings suggest that betaine regulates the osteogenic differentiation of SCAPs via inhibition of NUMB and may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for maxillofacial bone repair, with NUMB as a potential drug target.

Keywords
Betaine; NUMB; Osteogenic differentiation; Stem cell from the apical papilla (SCAPs).
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