Fig 2: The 3'-UTR of GPNMB is a direct target of miR-508-5p. a Schematic illustration of the complementary sequence between miR-508-5p and the GPNMB 3'-UTR. The mutation sites on the 3'-UTR of GPNMB were underlined. b hDPCs were transfected with miR-508-5p mimics or siRNA, and the expression levels of GPNMB were determined by qRT-PCR on day 6. c The expression levels of GPNMB were detected by Western blotting after transfection of hDPCs on day 6. d The Western blot results of GPNMB protein were quantified. e Luciferase reporter assay data found that co-transfection of 293T cells with miR-508-5p and wild-type GPNMB 3'-UTR led to a decrease in luciferase activity. In contrast, there was no significant difference observed in the GPNMB-Mt group. *p < 0.05

Fig 3: The expressions of miR-508-5p and GPNMB during odontogenic differentiation of hDPCs. a miR-508-5p expression levels were detected by qRT-PCR during the odontogenic differentiation of hDPCs at indicated time points. b The expression levels of GPNMB were detected by qRT-PCR during the odontogenic differentiation of hDPCs at indicated time points. c The protein levels of GPNMB were detected by Western blotting during the odontogenic differentiation of hDPCs at indicated time points. d Quantitative analyses of Western blot revealed GPNMB levels increased during the odontogenic differentiation of hDPCs at indicated time points. *p < 0.05 vs the group of 0d