BACKGROUND: To explore the role of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in 
the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human dental follicle cells 
(hDFCs), and its mechanism, so as to provide the basis for the use of hDFCs to 
achieve bone regeneration.
METHODS: hDFCs were obtained from fresh dental follicle tissues by enzymatic 
digestion, and cell phenotype and multipotential differentiation were 
identified. Identification of the expression of mechanosensitive ion channel 
Piezo1 was performed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. CCK-8 was 
used to determine the optimal concentration of the Piezo1 agonist, Yoda1. Then, 
according to the obtained results, Alizarin red staining, RT-PCR quantitative 
analysis and Western blot were used to further observe the osteogenic 
differentiation of hDFCs and its probable mechanism via Wnt/β-catenin 
signalling. The data were analysed by SPSS 22.0 software.
RESULTS: The results of the concentration gradient experiments indicated that 
0.5 µM Piezo1 agonist (Yoda1) enhanced the proliferation of hDFCs. Compared with 
the control group, a considerable number of calcium nodules showed that 
activating Piezo1 could promote the osteogenic differentiation of hDFCs. The 
relative mRNA and protein expression of Piezo1, ALP, RUNX2, OCN and BMP2 in the 
Piezo1 agonist group were higher than that of the control group. Furthermore, 
the expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin related to the classical osteogenic 
pathway were significantly up-regulated in the Piezo1 agonist group.
CONCLUSION: Activating mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 with an appropriate 
concentration of Yoda1 has a positive effect on the proliferation and osteogenic 
differentiation of hDFCs. This mechanism of promoting osteogenic differentiation 
may be mediated by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.