Gene Expression of Semaphorin 7A During Osteogenic Differentiation in Human Dental Follicle Cells

Semaphorin (Sema) 7A, also known as CDw108, is the only glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked member of the semaphorin family. It was recently suggested that Sema 7A regulates osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation, and is important for bone homeostasis. The dental follicle is an ectomesenchymal tissue that surrounds developing tooth germ, which contains osteoblastic/cementoblastic lineage committed stem/progenitor cells. The purpose of this study was to examine the gene expression of Sema 7A and its receptors, plexinC1 and beta-integrin, in human dental follicle cells (hDFCs) during osteogenic differentiation. We analyzed gene expression profiles between hDFCs cultures with GM and OIM on day 17. Sema 7A was the most up-regulated among the semaphorin family members in OIM culture when compared to GM culture. We confirmed the gene expression of Sema 7A in three hDFCs samples isolated from three donors using real-time PCR. Sema 7A was up-regulated in OIM culture in three hDFC samples. In addition, Sema 7A mRNA showed high levels on days 0 and 17 in hDFCs cultured in OIM, as compared to days 3 and 10, exhibiting bimodal expression during osteoblast differentiation. The expression of plexin C1 and beta-integrin was also up-regulated in OIM culture when compared to GM culture. These findings suggest that Sema 7A and its receptors are associated with the osteogenic differentiation of hDFCs.