Research Article

Pluripotency of Dental Pulp Cells and Periodontal Ligament Cells Was Enhanced through Cell-Cell Communication via STAT3/Oct-4/Sox2 Signaling

Figure 5

Expression and distribution of stem cell-related markers in the rat defect models. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed the structures of the normal and injury groups (a, b). The primary antibody was replaced by PBS in the negative control groups of normal and injury groups (c, d). STAT3, Oct-4, and Sox2 were notably present in the nucleus and, to a lesser extent, in the cytoplasm of the injury groups (f, h, and j). Rare staining of STAT3, Oct-4, and Sox2 was found in the normal groups (e, g, and i). Intense staining of PAX5 was found in the cytoplasm and matrix around the normal dental pulp and periodontal ligament when compared with PAX5 staining in the repaired connective tissues (k). Rare staining of PAX5 was detected in the injury groups (l). . D: dentin; DP: dental pulp; PDL: periodontal ligament.