Abstract: Objective To investigate the possibility of human umbilical cord mesenehymai stem cells(hUCMSC)differentiating into human periodontal ligament cells(hPDLC)by establishing a cocuhure model in vitro.Methods Indifeet coculture model of hPDLC with hUCMSC Was established on Transwell system.The protein expression of bone sialoprotein(BSP),ostocalcin(OCN)and osteopontin(OPN)was examined by immunohistochemical staining.The changes of hUCMSC on molecular level were analyzed by Western blotting.Results hUCMSC was in the form of polygon and rhombus after induction by hPDLC.Immunohistochemistry staining and Western blotting showed that OCN and OPN were up-regulated[OCN:(0.88±0.21)vs(1.42.±0.17),OPN:(0.93±0.13)vs(1.43±0.22),P<0.05]and BSP wag down regulated [(1.60.±0.09)vs(0.75±0.20),P<0.05]after coculture.Conclusions hUCMSC call differentiate into hPDLC under certain conditions in vitro and hUCMSC may hopefully become the stem cells in periodontal tissue engineering.