Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39920811›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2025

Betaine enhances SCAPs chondrogenic differentiation and promotes cartilage repair in TMJOA through WDR81.

Meiyue Wang, Zejie Wu, Xiaoyu Zheng, Yishu Huang, Yizhou Jin, Jiaxin Song, Wanzhen Lei, Hua Liu, Riyue Yu, Haoqing Yang and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. The YTHDC1-mInternational journal of oral science · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Meiyue WangDepartment of Stomatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
Zejie WuDepartment of Stomatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
Xiaoyu ZhengDepartment of Stomatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
Yishu HuangBeijing Laboratory of Oral Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
Yizhou JinBeijing Laboratory of Oral Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
Jiaxin SongBeijing Laboratory of Oral Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
Wanzhen LeiBeijing Laboratory of Oral Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
Hua LiuBeijing Laboratory of Oral Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
Riyue YuDepartment of Stomatology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China. yu-riyue@bjsjth.cn.
Haoqing YangBeijing Laboratory of Oral Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China. yanghaoqing@mail.ccmu.edu.cn.
Runtao GaoDepartment of Stomatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China. gaoruntao@ccmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9855-8819

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China 2022YFA1104401National Natural Science Foundation of China 81771026National Natural Science Foundation of China 82201010
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe cartilage tissue regeneration mediated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is considered as a viable strategy for temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Betaine has been confirmed to modulate the multidirectional differentiation of MSCs, while its effect on chondrogenic differentiation of Stem Cells from the Apical Papilla (SCAPs) is unknown. Here, we explored the effects and underlying mechanisms of betaine on chondrogenic differentiation of SCAPs.

methodsBetaine was added for SCAPs chondrogenic induction. The chondrogenic differentiation potential was assessed using Alcian Blue staining, Sirius Red staining and the main chondrogenic markers. In vivo cartilage regeneration effects were evaluated by the rat TMJOA model. RNA-sequencing and biological analyses were performed to select target genes and biological processes involved. The mechanism betaine acts on chondrogenic differentiation of SCAPs was further explored.

resultsBetain-treated SCAPs demonstrated stronger cartilage regeneration in vitro and promoted cartilage repair of TMJOA in vivo. Betaine enhanced the expression of WDR81 in SCAPs during chondrogenesis. WDR81 overexpression promoted chondrogenic differentiation of SCAPs, while WDR81 depletion inhibited chondrogenic differentiation. In addition, both betaine treatment and WDR81 overexpression reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and increased mitochondrial membrane potential in SCAPs.

conclusionBetaine promotes SCAPs chondrogenic differentiation and provided an effective candidate for TMJOA treatment. WDR81 may serve as the potential drug target through mitophagy.

Indexed as

BetaineCell DifferentiationChondrogenesisOsteoarthritisAnimalsCells, CulturedChondrocytesHumansMaleMesenchymal Stem CellsRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyReactive Oxygen SpeciesBetaineReactive Oxygen SpeciesChondrogenic differentiationMitochondriaStem cells from the apical papillaTemporomandibular joint osteoarthritisWDR81

Identifiers

PMID39920811
PMCPMC11806766

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.