Letter to the Editor: Epiregulin-EGFR-ERK1/2 signaling as a therapeutic axis for rescuing mesenchymal stem cell dysfunction in inflammatory periodontal niches

doi:10.4252/wjsc.119568

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World Journal of Stem Cells

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1948-0210

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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

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Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.

World J Stem Cells. Aug 26, 2026; 18(8): 119568
Published online Aug 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.119568

Letter to the Editor: Epiregulin-EGFR-ERK1/2 signaling as a therapeutic axis for rescuing mesenchymal stem cell dysfunction in inflammatory periodontal niches

Kruthika Prakash, Kandasamy Nagarajan ArulJothi, Ramya Lakshmi Rajendran, Prakash Gangadaran, Byeong-Cheol Ahn

Kruthika Prakash, Kandasamy Nagarajan ArulJothi, Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nādu, India

Ramya Lakshmi Rajendran, Byeong-Cheol Ahn, BK21 FOUR KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, South Korea

Ramya Lakshmi Rajendran, Prakash Gangadaran, Byeong-Cheol Ahn, Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, South Korea

Ramya Lakshmi Rajendran, Prakash Gangadaran, Byeong-Cheol Ahn, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, South Korea

Byeong-Cheol Ahn, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, South Korea

Co-first authors: Kruthika Prakash and Kandasamy Nagarajan ArulJothi.

Co-corresponding authors: Prakash Gangadaran and Byeong-Cheol Ahn.

Author contributions: Prakash K, ArulJothi KN, Rajendran RL, Gangadaran P, and Ahn BC designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript, contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript, the writing and editing of the manuscript, illustrations, and review of the literature. Prakash K and ArulJothi KN served as co-first authors and contributed equally. Gangadaran P and Ahn BC served as co-corresponding authors and contributed equally to the supervision, critical revision, and final approval of the manuscript.

Supported by Basic Science Research Program Through the National Research Foundation of Korea, No. NRF-2022R1I1A1A01068652.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.

Corresponding author: Byeong-Cheol Ahn, MD, PhD, Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680, Gukchaebosang ro, Jung gu, Daegu 41944, South Korea. abc2000@knu.ac.kr

Received: February 2, 2026
Revised: March 29, 2026
Accepted: May 8, 2026
Published online: August 26, 2026
Processing time: 202 Days and 0.4 Hours

Core Tip

Core Tip: Epiregulin restores inflammation-impaired bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell function via epidermal growth factor receptor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic target for periodontal regeneration under inflammatory conditions. By activating this pathway, epiregulin rescues key stem cell functions, including proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation, that are suppressed by inflammatory stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, offering a mechanistically driven and inflammation-resilient strategy for periodontal tissue regeneration and clinical translation.