Fig. 3

METTL3 overexpression enhances the mineralization of DPSCs. A Lentivirus was constructed to overexpress METTL3, as confirmed by qPCR. B Western blotting detected the protein expression of METTL3 in DPSCs after METTL3 overexpression. C The odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs after METTL3 overexpression was evaluated by ALP staining and ARS staining (n = 5). D qPCR analysis of the mRNA expression levels of ALP, RUNX2 and DSPP in METTL3-overexpressing OM-DPSCs. E The protein expression levels of METTL3, RUNX2 and DSPP were assayed by western blotting (n = 3). F Masson trichrome staining of the composites of β-TCP/HA scaffolds and DPSCs treated with METTL3 shRNA after subcutaneous transplantation in nude mice for 4 weeks (n = 5). G Subcutaneous transplantation of DPSCs transduced with METTL3 overexpression and control lentivirus (n = 5). H Collagen fibers and newly formed mineralized tissue were stained blue and evaluated by ImageJ. Significance was determined via two-tailed Student’s t test; the data are presented as the mean ± SD (n ≥ 3). *p < 0.05. **p < 0.01. ***p < 0.001