Fig. 3
Glutamine metabolism and mitochondrial respiration are enhanced during odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). (A, B) Seahorse assay results for OCRs of differentiating hDPSCs (odontoblastic induction for 0, 5, and 7 days) (n = 6). (C) Schematic summarizing the flux of 13C-glutamine into the TCA cycle and other metabolic activities. (D) LC-MS quantification of 13C-labeled (M3/M4/M5) metabolites in hDPSCs cultured in ordinary growth medium (OM) or differentiation medium (DM) (n = 3). Results are calculated as relative peak areas normalized with protein concentration. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis H tests in (B–E) and analyzed using Student’s t-test (G–Q). * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, and *** P < 0.001