Lithium Chloride Promotes the Odontoblast Differentiation of Hair Follicle Neural Crest Cells by Activating Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

The study explored the effects of lithium chloride (LiCl) on the differentiation of hair follicle neural crest cells (hfNCCs) into odontoblast-like cells, focusing on the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The research demonstrated that LiCl treatment increased the proliferation of hfNCCs and enhanced the expression of β-catenin in both cytosolic and nuclear compartments. Additionally, pluripotency markers such as Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and Nanog were more highly expressed in LiCl-treated cells compared to controls. In an in vitro model using dental cell conditioned media, odontoblast markers DSP, DMP1, and Runx2 showed stronger expression in the LiCl-treated group. The findings suggested that LiCl could effectively promote the proliferation and odontoblast differentiation of hfNCCs, indicating potential benefits for cell-based therapies.