MiR-920 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells by targeting HOXA7

Magnesium-containing bioceramics stimulate exosomal miR-196a-5p secretion to promote senescent osteogenesis through targeting Hoxa7/MAPK signaling axis

Stem cell senescence is characterized by progressive functional dysfunction and secretory phenotypic changes including decreased proliferation, dysfunction of osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation, increased secretion of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which bring difficulties for bone repair. Rescuing or delaying senescence of aged bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (O-BMSCs) was considered as effective strategy for bone regeneration in aging microenvironment. Magnesium (Mg) ion released from bioceramics was reported to facilitate bone regeneration via enhancing osteogenesis and alleviating senescence. In this study, Akermanite biocreamics (Akt) containing Mg ion as a model was demonstrated to promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis effects of O-BMSCs by activating the MAPK signaling pathway in vitro. Moreover, the enhanced osteogenesis effects might be attributed to enhanced Mg-containing Akt-mediated exosomal miR-196a-5p cargo targeting Hoxa7 and activation of MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, the in vivo study confirmed that 3D-printed porous Mg-containing Akt scaffolds effectively increased bone regeneration in cranial defects of aged rats. The current results indicated that the exosomal-miR-196a-5p/Hoxa7/MAPK signaling axis might be the potential mechanism underlying Akt-mediated osteogenesis. The exosome-meditaed therapy stimulated by the released Mg ion contained in Akt biocreamics or other biomaterials might serve as a candidate strategy for bone repair in aged individuals.

Common miRNAs of Osteoporosis and Fibromyalgia: A Review

A significant clinical association between osteoporosis (OP) and fibromyalgia (FM) has been shown in the literature. Given the need for specific biomarkers to improve OP and FM management, common miRNAs might provide promising tracks for future prevention and treatment. The aim of this review is to identify miRNAs described in OP and FM, and dysregulated in the same direction in both pathologies. The PubMed database was searched until June 2023, with a clear mention of OP, FM, and miRNA expression. Clinical trials, case-control, and cross-sectional studies were included. Gray literature was not searched. Out of the 184 miRNAs found in our research, 23 are shared by OP and FM: 7 common miRNAs are dysregulated in the same direction for both pathologies (3 up-, 4 downregulated). The majority of these common miRNAs are involved in the Wnt pathway and the cholinergic system and a possible link has been highlighted. Further studies are needed to explore this relationship. Moreover, the harmonization of technical methods is necessary to confirm miRNAs shared between OP and FM.

Research progress on microRNA in gout

Gout is a common form of arthritis caused by the deposition of sodium urate crystals in the joints and tissues around them. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that have been shown to be involved in regulating the pathogenesis of gout through multiple cellular signaling pathways, which may be potential targets for the treatment of gout. In this review, we systematically discuss the regulatory roles of related miRNAs in gout, which will provide help for the treatment of gout and miRNAs is expected to become a potential biomarker for gout diagnosis.

The Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are more easily available and frequently used for bone regeneration in clinics. Osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs involves complex regulatory networks affecting bone formation phenomena. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) refer to RNAs that do not encode proteins, mainly including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, piwi-interacting RNAs, transfer RNA-derived small RNAs, etc. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies had revealed the regulatory role of ncRNAs in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. NcRNAs had both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. During the physiological condition, osteo-stimulatory ncRNAs are upregulated and osteo-inhibitory ncRNAs are downregulated. The opposite effects might occur during bone degenerative disease conditions. Intracellular ncRNAs and ncRNAs from neighboring cells delivered via exosomes participate in the regulatory process of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the regulatory role of ncRNAs on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs during physiological and pathological conditions. We also discuss the prospects of the application of modulation of ncRNAs function in BMSCs to promote bone tissue regeneration in clinics.

Long non-coding RNA KCNQ1OT1 overexpression promotes osteogenic differentiation of staphylococcus aureus-infected human bone mesenchymal stem cells by sponging microRNA miR-29b-3p

Osteomyelitis (OM) is an orthopedic disease caused by bone infections in the bone cortex, bone marrow, periosteum, and surrounding soft tissues. Recent studies have implicated non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the development of OM. However, little is known about the role of ncRNAs in the osteogenic differentiation during bone infection. In the present study, we investigated the role of KCNQ1OT1/miR-29b-3p axis in osteogenic differentiation in staphylococcus aureus (SpA)-infected human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). We first examined the expression of lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and miR-29b-3p in the serum samples of OM patients and healthy controls. We also infected hBMSCs with different concentrations of SpA and studied the osteogenic differentiation after infection. Our results revealed that KCNQ1OT1 was downregulated while miR-29b-3p was upregulated in the serum samples of OM patients, as well as in SpA-infected hBMSCs. Overexpression of KCNQ1OT1 ameliorated the damage in hBMSCs caused by SpA infection. KCNQ1OT1 could support hBMSCs osteogenic differentiation by enhancing ALP activity, alizarin red S accumulation, expressions of osteogenic markers, and attenuating inflammatory responses after SpA infection. We further showed that miR-29b-3p was a downstream target of KCNQ1OT1, mediating the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs during SpA infection. Our data suggest that KCNQ1OT1 could ameliorate the SpA-induced suppression of osteogenic differentiation in hBMSCs by sponging miR-29b-3p. Modulating KCNQ1OT1 expression may serve as a strategy to ameliorate osteomyelitis.

miR-30b-5p inhibits osteoblast differentiation through targeting BCL6

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) are attractive candidates for new therapies to improve bone regeneration and repair. This study was to identify the function of the miR-30b-5p/BCL6 axis in osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. Realtime-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to measure the relative expression of ALP, OCN, RUNX2, miR-30b-5p, and BCL6 during osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. The relationship between miR-30b-5p and BCL6 in hBMSCs was identified using dual-luciferase reporter system and RNA pull-down assay. Alizarin red S staining (ARS) was used to detect the calcium nodules in hBMSCs. We found that the expression of miR-30b-5p was downregulated, whereas that of BCL6 was upregulated during osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. Downregulating miR-30b-5p enhanced the expression of OCN, RUNX2, and ALP, and promoted calcium deposition. Conversely, transfection with si-BCL6 had the opposite effect that it inhibited osteogenic differentiation. However, the inhibitory effect of si-BCL6 was abrogated by miR-30b-5p inhibitor. miR-30b-5p inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by targeting BCL6.

microRNA-265 Regulates Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation and Promotes Sepsis Lung Injury Repair via Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1

Our study investigates whether miR-265 regulates the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into alveolar type II epithelial cells (ATII) through TGF-β1 and promotes lung injury repair in rats with sepsis, thereby inhibiting sepsis progression. 25 patients with sepsis admitted to the Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department of the hospital and 17 normal controls were included. TGF-β1 level was measured by ELISA. miR-265 level was measured by qRT-PCR and AT II-related genes and proteins expression was analyzed by western blot and qRT-PCR. miR-265 expression was significantly higher in sepsis patients than normal group. Progenitor BMSCs were long and shuttle-shaped after 1 and 3 days of growth. Cultured MSCs had low expression of the negative antigen CD34 (4.32%) and high expression of the positive antigen CD44 (99.87%). TGF-β1 level was significantly increased with longer induction time, while miR-265 expression was significantly decreased in cell culture medium. miR-265 interference significantly decreased TGF-β1 expression. In conclusion, miR-265 inhibits BMSC differentiation to AT II via regulation of TGF-β1, thereby inhibiting sepsis progression.

Increased Expression of miR-7a-5p and miR-592 during Expansion of Rat Dental Pulp Stem Cells and Their Implication in Osteogenic Differentiation

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) possess strong osteogenic differentiation potential and are promising cell sources in regenerative medicine. However, such differentiation capacity progressively declines during their in vitro expansion. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in modulating stem cell differentiation. This study aimed (1) to determine if miR-7a-5p and miR-592 are involved in maintaining and regulating osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs, and (2) to explore their potential regulatory pathways. We found that the expression of miR-7a-5p and miR-592 was significantly upregulated during the expansion of rat DPSCs (rDPSCs). Overexpression of these miRNAs inhibited the osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation of rDPSCs, as evidenced by calcium deposition and osteogenic/odontogenic gene expression. RT-qPCR determined that miR-592 could downregulate heat shock protein B8, whose expression is reduced during the expansion of rDPSCs. Furthermore, RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis identified significant signaling pathways of miR-7a-5p and miR-592 in regulating osteogenic differentiation, including TNF, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt pathways. We conclude that upregulating miR-7a-5p and miR-592 suppresses the osteogenic differentiation of rDPSCs during their in vitro expansion, likely via TNF, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt pathways. The results may shed light on application of miR-7a-5p and miR-592 for maintaining osteo-differentiation potential in stem cells for bone regeneration and bone-related disease treatment.

MicroRNA miR-874-3p inhibits osteoporosis by targeting leptin (LEP)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate osteogenic differentiation and influence osteoporosis (OP). The aim of this study was to determine the potential role of miR-874-3p in OP. The expression levels of miR-874-3p and leptin (LEP) in the femoral neck trabeculae of 35 patients with or without OP were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effects of miR-874-3p or LEP on the cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin (OCN), and osterix (OSX) levels were observed by upregulating miR-874-3p in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). Additionally, calcium deposition levels were evaluated using alizarin red staining (ARS). Molecular mechanisms of miR-874-3p and LEP underlying the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs were also evaluated using bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assays, and RNA pull-down assays. The miR-874-3p levels were significantly lower in the femoral neck trabeculae of patients with OP than those of the control group, while the opposite was observed regarding the levels of LEP. Expression levels of miR-874-3p in hBMSCs were upregulated during osteogenic differentiation, while those of LEP were downregulated. Moreover, miR-874-3p upregulation promoted ALP, RUNX2, OCN, and OSX mRNA expression, cell proliferation, and calcium deposition in hBMSCs. LEP was found to be a target gene of miR-874-3p. Overexpression of LEP inhibited the expression of osteoblast markers and reversed the effect of osteogenic differentiation induced by the upregulation of miR-874-3p. In conclusion, miR-874-3p promoted the proliferation and differentiation of hBMSCs by downregulating the expression of LEP, thus inhibiting OP.

Abbreviations : miRNAs: microRNAs; OP: osteoporosis; hBMSCs: human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal stem cells; LEP: leptin; DEGs: differentially expressed genes

Mir24-2-5p suppresses the osteogenic differentiation with Gnai3 inhibition presenting a direct target via inactivating JNK-p38 MAPK signaling axis

Background: Congenital anomalies are increasingly becoming a global pediatric health concern, which requires immediate attention to its early diagnosis, preventive strategies, and efficient treatments. Guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha inhibiting activity polypeptide 3 (Gnai3) gene mutation has been demonstrated to cause congenital small jaw deformity, but the functions of Gnai3 in the disease-specific microRNA (miRNA) upregulations and their downstream signaling pathways during osteogenesis have not yet been reported. Our previous studies found that the expression of Mir24-2-5p was significantly downregulated in the serum of young people with overgrowing mandibular, and bioinformatics analysis suggested possible binding sites of Mir24-2-5p in the Gnai3 3'UTR region. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the mechanism of Mir24-2-5p-mediated regulation of Gnai3 gene expression and explore the possibility of potential treatment strategies for bone defects.

Methods: Synthetic miRNA mimics and inhibitors were transduced into osteoblast precursor cells to regulate Mir24-2-5p expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was utilized to identify the direct binding of Gnai3 and its regulator Mir24-2-5p. Gnai3 levels in osteoblast precursor cells were downregulated by shRNA (shGnai3). Agomir, Morpholino Oligo (MO), and mRNA were microinjected into zebrafish embryos to control mir24-2-5p and gnai3 expression. Relevant expression levels were determined by the qRT-PCR and Western blotting. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and transwell migration assays were performed to assess cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. ALP, ARS and Von Kossa staining were performed to observe osteogenic differentiation. Alcian blue staining and calcein immersions were performed to evaluate the embryonic development and calcification of zebrafish.

Results: The expression of Mir24-2-5p was reduced throughout the mineralization process of osteoblast precursor cells. miRNA inhibitors and mimics were transfected into osteoblast precursor cells. Cell proliferation, migration, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization processes were measured, which showed a reverse correlation with the expression of Mir24-2-5p. Dual-luciferase reporter gene detection assay confirmed the direct interaction between Mir24-2-5p and Gnai3 mRNA. Moreover, in osteoblast precursor cells treated with Mir24-2-5p inhibitor, the expression of Gnai3 gene was increased, suggesting that Mir24-2-5p negatively targeted Gnai3. Silencing of Gnai3 inhibited osteoblast precursor cells proliferation, migration, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization. Promoting effects of osteoblast precursor cells proliferation, migration, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization by low expression of Mir24-2-5p was partially rescued upon silencing of Gnai3. In vivo, mir24-2-5p Agomir microinjection into zebrafish embryo resulted in shorter body length, smaller and retruded mandible, decreased cartilage development, and vertebral calcification, which was partially rescued by microinjecting gnai3 mRNA. Notably, quite similar phenotypic outcomes were observed in gnai3 MO embryos, which were also partially rescued by mir24-2-5p MO. Besides, the expression of phospho-JNK (p-JNK) and p-p38 were increased upon Mir24-2-5p inhibitor treatment and decreased upon shGnai3-mediated Gnai3 downregulation in osteoblast precursor cells. Osteogenic differentiation and mineralization abilities of shGnai3-treated osteoblast precursor cells were promoted by p-JNK and p-p38 pathway activators, suggesting that Gnai3 might regulate the differentiation and mineralization processes in osteoblast precursor cells through the MAPK signaling pathway.

Conclusions: In this study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of Mir24-2-5p on Gnai3 expression regulation in osteoblast precursor cells and provided a new idea of improving the prevention and treatment strategies for congenital mandibular defects and mandibular protrusion.

Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanism of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in Treating Osteoporosis Based on Network Pharmacology

Objective

The purpose of this work is to study the mechanism of action of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJSD) in the treatment of osteoporosis based on the methods of bioinformatics and network pharmacology.

Methods

In this study, the active compounds of each medicinal ingredient of DHJSD and their corresponding targets were obtained from TCMSP database. Osteoporosis was treated as search query in GeneCards, MalaCards, DisGeNET, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), and OMIM databases to obtain disease-related genes. The overlapping targets of DHJSD and osteoporosis were identified, and then GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed. Cytoscape was employed to construct DHJSD-compounds-target genes-osteoporosis network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. CytoHubba was utilized to select the hub genes. The activities of binding of hub genes and key components were confirmed by molecular docking.

Results

174 active compounds and their 205 related potential targets were identified in DHJSD for the treatment of osteoporosis, including 10 hub genes (AKT1, ALB, IL6, MAPK3, VEGFA, JUN, CASP3, EGFR, MYC, and EGF). Pathway enrichment analysis of target proteins indicated that osteoclast differentiation, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway were the specifically major pathways regulated by DHJSD against osteoporosis. Further verification based on molecular docking results showed that the small molecule compounds (Quercetin, Kaempferol, Beta-sitosterol, Beta-carotene, and Formononetin) contained in DHJSD generally have excellent binding affinity to the macromolecular target proteins encoded by the top 10 genes.

Conclusion

This study reveals the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway of DHJSD against osteoporosis and provides novel insights for verifying the mechanism of DHJSD in the treatment of osteoporosis.

miR-1249-5p regulates the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs by targeting PDX1

Background

Osteoporosis (OP) is an age-related systemic bone disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of osteogenic differentiation. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and mechanism of miR-1249-5p for promoting osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs).

Methods

GSE74209 dataset was retrieved from NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and performed bioinformatic analyses. OP tissue and healthy control tissues were obtained and used for RT-PCR analyses. ADSCs were incubated with miR-1249-5p mimic, inhibitor and corresponding negative control (NC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, and Alizarin Red Staining (ARS) were then performed to assess the role of miR-1249-5p for osteogenesis of ADSCs. Targetscan online website and dual-luciferase reporter assay were performed to verify that the 3′-UTR of PDX1 mRNA is a direct target of miR-1249-5p. RT-PCR and western blot were also performed to identify the mechanism of miR-1249-5p for osteogenesis of ADSCs.

Results

A total of 170 differentially expressed miRNAs were selected, among which, 75 miRNAs were downregulated and 95 miRNAs were upregulated. Moreover, miR-1249-5p was decreased in OP patients, while showed a gradual increase with the extension of induction time. miR-1249-5p mimic significantly increased osteogenic differentiation capacity and p-PI3K and p-Akt protein levels. Luciferase activity in ADSCs co-transfected of miR-1249-5p mimic with PDX1-WT reporter plasmids was remarkably decreased, but there was no obvious change in miR-1249-5p mimic with PDX1-MUT reporter plasmids co-transfection group. Overexpression PDX1 could partially reverse the promotion effects of miR-1249-5p on osteogenesis of ADSCs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, miR-1249-5p promotes osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs by targeting PDX1 through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.