Modulatory roles of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and asporin in osteo/cementoblast differentiation potential of human periodontal ligament stem cells: a multivariate model analysis

Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating osteo/cementogenic differentiation is critical for optimizing cell-based strategies in periodontal regeneration. This study employed multivariate statistical modeling to investigate, in vitro, the interaction between bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and asporin (ASPN) in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and its impact on mineralization potential. Four primary hPDLSC populations—two with high osteo/cementogenic potential (HOP) and two with low potential (LOP)—were cultured under standard (SDM) and osteo/cementogenic (OM) conditions. Mineralization was assessed using Alizarin Red Staining (AR-S) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, while gene expression of ASPN, BMP2, osteocalcin (OCN), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) was quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). BMP2 protein levels were measured using the Luminex system. Data analysis incorporated Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Pearson correlations, correlation networks, and multivariate regression models in RStudio. HOP cells exhibited higher mineralization and BMP2 expression compared to LOP cells (p < 0.05). ASPN negatively correlated with BMP2 expression and mineralization, particularly in LOP cells (p < 0.01), reinforcing its inhibitory role. Multivariate modeling identified BMP2 as a key positive regulator of osteo/cementogenesis, while ASPN emerged as a significant inhibitory factor (p < 0.001). This study highlights the potential of multivariate models as powerful tools for uncovering molecular interactions and identifying novel therapeutic targets, paving the way for advancements in periodontal regeneration and cell-based therapies.