Fig. 2

P. gingivalis significantly restrains cementoblast differentiation, and stable CXXC5 overexpression mitigates these osteogenic inhibitory effects. A, B Cementoblasts were co-cultured with P. gingivalis (multiplicity of infection [MOI] = 0, 10, 100) for 7 days, and ALP staining and ARS were performed. After image capture, mineralized nodules were dissolved in cetylpyridinium chloride and quantified at 562 nm (n = 3). C, D The co-culture system contained control or CXXC5-overexpressed cells and P. gingivalis (MOI = 0, 10, 100), and maintained for 7 and 14 days, with ALP staining and ARS (description and quantitation) done at selected time points (n = 3). E Cell proliferation of control and Cxxc5-over cementoblasts was monitored in normal culture medium for 7 days by CCK-8 assay (n = 5). Data are the mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, and **P < 0.01