MicroRNA-33a regulates cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol efflux-related genes in osteoarthritic chondrocytes

Unraveling the molecular landscape of osteoarthritis: A comprehensive review focused on the role of non-coding RNAs

Osteoarthritis (OA) poses a significant global health challenge, with its prevalence anticipated to increase in the coming years. This review delves into the emerging molecular biomarkers in OA pathology, focusing on the roles of various molecules such as metabolites, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Advances in omics technologies have transformed biomarker identification, enabling comprehensive analyses of the complex pathways involved in OA pathogenesis. Notably, ncRNAs, especially miRNAs and lncRNAs, exhibit dysregulated expression patterns in OA, presenting promising opportunities for diagnosis and therapy. Additionally, the intricate interplay between epigenetic modifications and OA progression highlights the regulatory role of epigenetics in gene expression dynamics. Genome-wide association studies have pinpointed key genes undergoing epigenetic changes, providing insights into the inflammatory processes and chondrocyte hypertrophy typical of OA. Understanding the molecular landscape of OA, including biomarkers and epigenetic mechanisms, holds significant potential for developing innovative diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for OA management.

APOA1/C3/A4/A5 Gene Cluster at 11q23.3 and Lipid Metabolism Disorders: From Epigenetic Mechanisms to Clinical Practices

The APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster is an essential component in regulating lipoprotein metabolism and maintaining plasma lipid homeostasis. A genome-wide association analysis and Mendelian randomization have revealed potential associations between genetic variants within this cluster and lipid metabolism disorders, including hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular events. An enhanced understanding of the complexity of gene regulation has led to growing recognition regarding the role of epigenetic variation in modulating APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene expression. Intensive research into the epigenetic regulatory patterns of the APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster will help increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of lipid metabolism disorders and facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches. This review discusses the biology of how the APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster affects circulating lipoproteins and the current progress in the epigenetic regulation of the APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster.

Risk of metabolic abnormalities in osteoarthritis: a new perspective to understand its pathological mechanisms

Although aging has traditionally been viewed as the most important risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), an increasing amount of epidemiological evidence has highlighted the association between metabolic abnormalities and OA, particularly in younger individuals. Metabolic abnormalities, such as obesity and type II diabetes, are strongly linked to OA, and they affect both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing joints, thus suggesting that the pathogenesis of OA is more complicated than the mechanical stress induced by overweight. This review aims to explore the recent advances in research on the relationship between metabolic abnormalities and OA risk, including the impact of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, the potential pathogenesis and targeted therapeutic strategies.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteomic Profiles in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia

The intrinsic mechanism of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to seek the hub proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which display significant changes between the PHN and nonpainful patients (Control). First, the proteomic results showed that compared with the Control-CSF, there were 100 upregulated and 50 downregulated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the PHN-CSF. Besides, functional analyses including gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that biological processes and pathways including complement activation, infection, coagulation, and lipid metabolism were activated, while synaptic organization was suppressed. Next, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis indicated that increased PLG, F2, APOA1, APOA2, SERPINC1, and KNG1 and reduced APOE, which were all enriched in the top pathways according to the KEGG analysis, were defined as hub proteins. Finally, three of the hub proteins, such as PLG, APOA1, and APOE, were reconfirmed in a larger cohort using both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting methods. Above all, the results indicated that PLG, APOA1, and APOE and their involved processes such as infection, inflammation, cholesterol metabolism, and coagulation shall be potential therapeutic approaches. (The raw mass spectrometry proteome data and search results have been deposited to the iProx-integrated Proteome Resources (http://www.iprox.cn) with the data set identifier IPX0007372000.).

MiR-320a upregulation improves IL-1β-induced osteoarthritis via targeting the DAZAP1 and MAPK pathways

PURPOSE

Osteoarthritis (OA), a constant illness described by articular cartilage degeneration, usually manifested by joint pain and helpless development. Numerous literatures suggest that microRNAs play an important regulatory role in OA, yet the role of miR-320a in OA remains largely obscure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To evaluate the expression of miR-320a mRNA, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used. Cell counting kit-8 assay, Edu staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection assay, Caspases 3 staining, and trypan staining were conducted to monitor cell proliferation and apoptosis. Western blot was applied to examine DAZAP1 and ERK/JNK/MAPK associated protein expression. Luciferase reporter gene experiments were performed to confirm the relationships between miR-320a and DAZAP1. ELISA assay was adopted to analyze the secretion of inflammation cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α.

RESULTS

In an in vitro osteoarthritis model caused by IL-1β, miR-320a expression was markedly reduced. Overexpression of miR-320a restored IL-1β-inhibited chondrocyte proliferation, induced apoptosis and inflammatory response. Mechanistically, miR-320a affected HC-A cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammatory response by regulating DAZAPI. Meanwhile, the ERK/JNK/MAPK pathway is also involved in the regulatory role of miR-320a on OA.

CONCLUSION

Our results show an important role for miR-320a and provide new therapeutic targets for avoiding and treating osteoarthritis.

Circulating miR-146b and miR-27b are efficient biomarkers for early diagnosis of Equidae osteoarthritis

One of the most orthopedic problems seen in the equine is osteoarthritis (OA). The present study tracks some biochemical, epigenetic, and transcriptomic factors along different stages of monoiodoacetate (MIA) induced OA in donkeys in serum and synovial fluid. The aim of the study was the detection of sensitive noninvasive early biomarkers. OA was induced by a single intra-articular injection of 25 mg of MIA into the left radiocarpal joint of nine donkeys. Serum and synovial samples were taken at zero-day and different intervals for assessment of total GAGs and CS levels as well as miR-146b, miR-27b, TRAF-6, and COL10A1 gene expression. The results showed that the total GAGs and CS levels increased in different stages of OA. The level of expression of both miR-146b and miR-27b were upregulated as OA progressed and then downregulated at late stages. TRAF-6 gene was upregulated at the late stage while synovial fluid COL10A1 was over-expressed at the early stage of OA and then decreased at the late stages (P < 0.05). In conclusion, both miR-146b and miR-27b together with COL10A1 could be used as promising noninvasive biomarkers for the very early diagnosis of OA.

Resveratrol Improves the Progression of Osteoarthritis by Regulating the SIRT1-FoxO1 Pathway-Mediated Cholesterol Metabolism

Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered a metabolic disorder. This study investigated the effect of resveratrol (RES) on cholesterol accumulation in osteoarthritic articular cartilage via the silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/forkhead transcription factor (FoxO1) pathway. Interleukin (IL)-1β-treated chondrocytes that mimic OA chondrocytes were used in in vitro experiments. The optimal RES concentration was selected based on the results of chondrocyte proliferation in the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed. For the animal experiments, mice were randomly divided into the RES group (n = 15), medial meniscus destabilization group (n = 15), and sham group (n = 15), and each group received the same dose of RES or saline. Articular cartilage tissue was obtained eight weeks after surgery for relevant histological analysis. Clinical tissue test results suggest that downregulation of the SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway is associated with cholesterol buildup in OA chondrocytes. For the in vitro studies, RES increased the expression of SIRT1 and phosphorylation of FoxO1 in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes, promoted the expression of cholesterol efflux factor liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), and inhibited the expression of cholesterol synthesis-associated factor sterol-regulatory element binding proteins 2 (SREBP2). This reduced IL-1β-induced chondrocytes cholesterol accumulation. SIRT1 inhibition prevented the RES-mediated reduction in cholesterol buildup. Inhibiting FoxO1 but not SIRT1 reduced FoxO1 phosphorylation and increased cholesterol buildup in cultured chondrocytes. Additionally, in vivo experiments have shown that RES can alleviate cholesterol buildup and pathological changes in OA cartilage. Our findings suggest that RES regulates cholesterol buildup in osteoarthritic articular cartilage via the SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway, thereby improving the progression of OA.

Metformin mitigates cholesterol accumulation via the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway to protect osteoarthritis chondrocytes

In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of metformin on cholesterol synthesis and efflux-related genes in chondrocytes during osteoarthritis (OA) and explore the underlying mechanisms. Primary chondrocytes were harvested from Wistar rat cartilage and divided into control and treatment groups. Chondrocytes in the treatment group were treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mimicking the inflammatory environment of osteoarthritis. Subsequently, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) were conducted. Significant reductions in phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) protein expression were observed in both human OA chondrocytes and cultured primary murine chondrocytes treated with IL-1β, while AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was not inhibited. Moreover, in the presence of IL-1β, metformin significantly increased the expression of p-AMPK and SIRT1 at the protein and mRNA level. Meanwhile, metformin could reverse IL-1β-induced cartilage extracellular matrix degradation in chondrocytes from the rat model of OA (treated by IL-β) by activating the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. Moreover, metformin activated AMPK and SIRT1, mediated by the activation of SREBP-2 and HMGCR in OA chondrocytes. Inhibiting AMPK/SIRT1 activity by its specific inhibitor could suppress IL-1β-induced expression of LXRα, ABCA1 and ApoA1 and cholesterol efflux. Thus, metformin inhibits cholesterol synthesis and promotes cholesterol efflux by activating the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway in OA chondrocytes. This study improves our understanding of the effect of metformin on cholesterol accumulation in OA chondrocytes.

Isoflavone daidzein ameliorates renal dysfunction and fibrosis in a postmenopausal rat model: Intermediation of angiotensin AT1 and Mas receptors and microRNAs 33a and 27a

OBJECTIVES

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), accompanied by renal dysfunction, fibrosis, and apoptosis, is highly prevalent in postmenopausal women. We tested the hypothesis that isoflavone daidzein may ameliorate renal dysfunction and fibrosis through angiotensin II type 1 (AT1R) and angiotensin 1-7 (MasR) receptors in association with microRNAs 33a and 27a.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two weeks before the initiation of the experiments, rats (n=84) underwent ovariectomy (OVX). Then, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was performed in OVX rats, and animals were allocated to the following groups (n=21): sham vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide; DMSO 1%), UUO vehicle, UUO+17β-estradiol (E2), and UUO+daidzein. Each group encompassed three subgroups (n=7) treated with saline, A779 (MasR antagonist), or losartan (AT1R antagonist) for 15 days. The fractional urine excretion of sodium (FE_Na+) and potassium (FE_K+), renal failure index (RFI), renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF index), glomerulosclerosis, miR-33a, and miR-27a expressions and their target genes were analyzed. Apoptosis was measured via cleaved caspase-3 immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

UUO increased kidney weight, FE_Na+, FE_K+, urine calcium, RFI, RIF index, glomerulosclerosis, and cleaved caspase-3. Moreover, expression of renal miR-33a and miR-27a, collagen3A1 mRNA, and protein were up-regulated post-UUO. Daidzein treatment alleviated the harmful effects of UUO especially in co-treatment with losartan. They also masked the anticipated worsening effects of A779 on UUO.

CONCLUSION

Compared with E2, daidzein efficiently ameliorated renal dysfunction, fibrosis, and apoptosis through modulation of miR-33a and miR-27a expression and their crosstalk with AT1R and MasR. Therefore, daidzein might be a promising candidate for treating CKD in postmenopausal and older women.

Lipid Metabolism in Cartilage Development, Degeneration, and Regeneration

Lipids affect cartilage growth, injury, and regeneration in diverse ways. Diet and metabolism have become increasingly important as the prevalence of obesity has risen. Proper lipid supplementation in the diet contributes to the preservation of cartilage function, whereas excessive lipid buildup is detrimental to cartilage. Lipid metabolic pathways can generate proinflammatory substances that are crucial to the development and management of osteoarthritis (OA). Lipid metabolism is a complicated metabolic process involving several regulatory systems, and lipid metabolites influence different features of cartilage. In this review, we examine the current knowledge about cartilage growth, degeneration, and regeneration processes, as well as the most recent research on the significance of lipids and their metabolism in cartilage, including the extracellular matrix and chondrocytes. An in-depth examination of the involvement of lipid metabolism in cartilage metabolism will provide insight into cartilage metabolism and lead to the development of new treatment techniques for metabolic cartilage damage.

Long noncoding and micro-RNA expression in a model of articular chondrocyte degeneration induced by stromal cell-derived factor-1

Background

Gene regulatory network analysis has found that long noncoding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) are strongly associated with the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Objectives

To determine the differential expression of lncRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) in normal chondrocytes and those from a model of articular chondrocyte degeneration.

Methods

Chondrocytes were cultured from cartilage obtained from patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) was used to induce their degeneration. Total RNA was extracted, analyzed, amplified, labeled, and hybridized on a chip to determine expression. The set of enriched differentially expressed miRNAs was analyzed by gene ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes to describe the functional properties of the key biological processes and pathways. We conducted a bioinformatics analysis using Cytoscape to elucidate the interactions between miRNAs and proteins.

Results

We found that the expression of 186 lncRNAs was significantly different in the model of chondrocyte degeneration, in which 88 lncRNAs were upregulated, and 98 were downregulated. Expression of 684 miRNAs was significantly different. Analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network indicated that the genes for CXCL10, ISG15, MYC, MX1, OASL, IFIT1, RSAD2, MX2, IFI44L, and BST2 are the top 10 core genes, identifying the most important functional modules to elucidate the differential expression of miRNAs.

Conclusions

These data may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of chondrocyte degeneration in osteoarthritis, and the identification of lncRNAs and miRNAs may provide potential targets for the differential diagnosis and therapy of osteoarthritis.

Limonin relieves TGF-β-induced hepatocyte EMT and hepatic stellate cell activation in vitro and CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice via upregulating Smad7 and subsequent suppression of TGF-β/Smad cascade

Liver fibrosis is a pathological process as a result of intrahepatic deposition of excessive extracellular matrix. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of hepatocytes and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) both play important roles in the etiology of liver fibrosis. Here, we found that limonin repressed transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β)-induced EMT in AML-12 hepatocytes and activation of LX-2 HSCs. In both kinds of cells, limonin suppressed TGF-β-provoked Smad2/3 C-terminal phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear translocation. Transcription of Smad2/3-downstream genes was in turn reduced. However, limonin exerted few effects on Smad2/3 phosphorylation at linker region. Mechanistically, limonin increased Smad7 at mRNA level in both AML-12 and LX-2 cells. Knockdown of Smad7 abrogated inhibitory effects of limonin on TGF-β-induced EMT in AML-12 cells and activation of LX-2 cells. Further studies revealed that limonin alleviated mouse liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄. In livers of model mice, limonin upregulated Smad7 and declined C-terminal phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Smad2/3. Transcription of Smad2/3-responsive genes was also attenuated. Our findings indicated that limonin inhibits TGF-β-induced EMT of hepatocytes and activation of HSCs in vitro and CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Upregulated Smad7 which suppresses Smad2/3-dependent gene transcription is implicated in the hepatoprotective activity of limonin.

Anti-fibrotic mechanism of SPP1 knockdown in atrial fibrosis associates with inhibited mitochondrial DNA damage and TGF-β/SREBP2/PCSK9 signaling

Atrial fibrosis occurs frequently with structural heart disease and is considered as a major cause of arrhythmia. Microarray-based profiling predicted the differential expression of SPP1 in atrial fibrosis. Herein, we aimed to analyze the role of shRNA-mediated SPP1 knockdown in the progression of atrial fibrosis as well as the downstream mechanism. In vivo model in mice and in vitro HL-1 cell model of atrial fibrosis were developed by the angiotensin II (Ang II) method, where SPP1 expression was validated by RT-qPCR. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed in Ang II-induced mice and HL-1 cells to evaluate the effect of the SPP1/TGF-β/SREBP2/PCSK9 axis on cell viability, apoptosis, collagen production and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage in atrial fibrosis. Expression of SPP1, TGF-β, SREBP2 and PCSK9 was increased in Ang II-induced mice and HL-1 cells. Silencing of SPP1 inhibited the occurrence of atrial fibrosis, as reflected by attenuated cell viability and collagen production as well as increased cell apoptosis. Conversely, upregulated SPP1 enhanced atrial fibrosis, which was related to upregulation of TGF-β. In addition, TGF-β elevated the expression of SREBP2, which promoted mtDNA damage and the consequent atrial fibrosis by augmenting the expression of PCSK9. This study uncovers previously unrecognized pro-fibrotic activities of SPP1 in atrial fibrosis, which is achieved through activation of the TGF-β/SREBP2/PCSK9 signaling pathway and promotion of mtDNA damage.

Recent advance in treatment of atherosclerosis: Key targets and plaque-positioned delivery strategies

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of vascular wall, is a progressive pathophysiological process with lipids oxidation/depositing initiation and innate/adaptive immune responses. The coordination of multi systems covering oxidative stress, dysfunctional endothelium, diseased lipid uptake, cell apoptosis, thrombotic and pro-inflammatory responding as well as switched SMCs contributes to plaque growth. In this circumstance, inevitably, targeting these processes is considered to be effective for treating atherosclerosis. Arriving, retention and working of payload candidates mediated by targets in lesion direct ultimate therapeutic outcomes. Accumulating a series of scientific studies and clinical practice in the past decades, lesion homing delivery strategies including stent/balloon/nanoparticle-based transportation worked as the potent promotor to ensure a therapeutic effect. The objective of this review is to achieve a very brief summary about the effective therapeutic methods cooperating specifical targets and positioning-delivery strategies in atherosclerosis for better outcomes.

Crosstalk Among circRNA/lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that is pervasive in life, and the incidence and mortality of OA are increasing, causing many adverse effects on people's life. Therefore, it is very vital to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of OA. ncRNA is a nonprotein-coding RNA that does not translate into proteins but participates in protein translation. At the RNA level, it can perform biological functions. Many studies have found that miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA are closely related to the course of OA and play important regulatory roles in transcription, post-transcription, and post-translation, which can be used as biological targets for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of OA. In this review, we summarized and described the various roles of different types of miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA in OA, the roles of different lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in OA, and the possible prospects of these ncRNAs in clinical application.

Cholesterol metabolism related genes in osteoarthritis

Cholesterol homeostasis plays a significant role in skeletal development and the dysregulation of cholesterol-related mechanism has been shown to be involved in the development of cartilage diseases including osteoarthritis (OA). Epidemiological studies have shown an association between elevated serum cholesterol levels and OA. Furthermore, abnormal lipid accumulation in chondrocytes as a result of abnormal regulation of cholesterol homeostasis has been demonstrated to be involved in the development of OA. Although, many in vivo and in vitro studies support the connection between cholesterol and cartilage degradation, the mechanisms underlying the complex interactions between lipid metabolism, especially HDL cholesterol metabolism, and OA remain unclear. The current review aims to address this problem and focuses on key molecular players of the HDL metabolism pathway and their role in ΟΑ pathogenesis. Understanding the complexity of biological processes implicated in OA pathogenesis, such as cholesterol metabolism, may lead to new targets for drug therapy of OA patients.

Ultrasound-targeted simvastatin-loaded microbubble destruction promotes OA cartilage repair by modulating the cholesterol efflux pathway mediated by PPARγ in rabbits

Aims

To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-targeted simvastatin-loaded microbubble destruction (UTMD_SV) for alleviation of the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) in rabbits through modulation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ).

Methods

In vitro, OA chondrocytes were treated with ultrasound (US), US-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD), simvastatin (SV), and UTMD_SV on alternate days for four weeks. Chondrocytes were also treated with PPARγ inhibitor, PPARγ inhibitor+ UTMD_SV, and UTMD_SV. The cholesterol efflux rate and triglyceride levels were measured using an assay kit and oil red O staining, respectively. In vivo, the OA rabbits were treated with a single intra-articular injection of UTMD, SV, and UTMD_SV every seven days for four weeks. Cartilage histopathology was assessed by safranin-O staining and the Mankin score. Total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in rabbit knee synovial fluid were detected by enzyme-marker assay. Aggrecan, collagen II, and PPARγ expression levels were analyzed by Western blotting (WB).

Results

In vitro, UTMD_SV significantly increased the cholesterol efflux rate and aggrecan, collagen II, and PPARγ levels in OA chondrocytes; these effects were blocked by the PPARγ inhibitor. In vivo, UTMD_SV significantly increased aggrecan, collagen II, PPARγ, and HDL-C levels, while TC levels and Mankin scores were decreased compared with the UTMD, SV, OA, and control groups.

Conclusion

UTMD_SV promotes cartilage extracellular matrix synthesis by modulating the PPARγ-mediated cholesterol efflux pathway in OA rabbits.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(10):693–703.

Small Noncoding RNAs in Knee Osteoarthritis: The Role of MicroRNAs and tRNA-Derived Fragments

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative knee joint disease that results from the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone, affecting about 3.3% of the world's population. As OA is a multifactorial disease, the underlying pathological process is closely associated with genetic changes in articular cartilage and bone. Many studies have focused on the role of small noncoding RNAs in OA and identified numbers of microRNAs that play important roles in regulating bone and cartilage homeostasis. The connection between other types of small noncoding RNAs, especially tRNA-derived fragments and knee osteoarthritis is still elusive. The observation that there is limited information about small RNAs different than miRNAs in knee OA was very surprising to us, especially given the fact that tRNA fragments are known to participate in a plethora of human diseases and a portion of them are even more abundant than miRNAs. Inspired by these findings, in this review we have summarized the possible involvement of microRNAs and tRNA-derived fragments in the pathology of knee osteoarthritis.

Role of mir-33a, mir-203b, mir361-3p, and mir-424 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/aim

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive cancer types. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding regulatory RNAs that function posttranscriptionally. miRNA deregulation was observed in the development and progression of HCC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression levels of four miRNAs (mir-33a, mir-203b, mir361-3p, and mir-424) in HCC patients in comparison to healthy individuals.

Materials and methods

Venous blood samples were collected from both HCC patients and healthy individuals. In order to determine the relative expression levels of mir-33a, mir-203b, mir361-3p, and hsa-mir-424 in HCC patients, probe-based quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed. The cycle threshold (Ct) results were analyzed according to the 2−∆∆Ct method and statistical analyses were performed by SPSS Statistics version 15 for Windows.

Results

qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression levels of mir-33a (fold change: 7.3 and P < 0.001), mir-203b (fold change: 4.6 and P < 0.001), and mir361-3p (fold change: 5.1 and P < 0.001)were downregulated compared to healthy individuals and mir-424 did not show any significant change between HCC patients and controls.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that mir-33a, mir-203b, and mir-361-3p may significantly contribute to tumor pathogenesis in HCC and have potential to be used as a noninvasive biomarker for cancer therapy.

Silencing SGK1 alleviates osteoarthritis through epigenetic regulation of CREB1 and ABCA1 expression

AIM

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder and a leading cause of disability. While early proactive management is crucial in alleviating symptoms in OA patients, currently available therapeutic approaches are yet to achieve an ideal level of efficacy. The path to the development of a potent treatment begins with the thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of OA. The present study aims to explore the mechanism by which SGK1 is involved in OA progression.

METHODS

Firstly, the potential target gene of SGK1 was screened and SGK1 expression was determined in OA through bioinformatics analysis. Mouse OA model was then established and chondrocytes were extracted, after which inflammation was induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Following LPS treatment, the chondrocytes were transfected with synthesized plasmids to explore the impact of SGK1, CREB1, and ABCA1 on apoptosis, proliferation and inflammation in OA. ChIP-PCR and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay were conducted to determine the binding relation between SGK1 and CREB1 as well as between CREB1 and ABCA1.

RESULTS

OA mice presented with high expression of SGK1. Interestingly, we found that SGK1 inhibited CREB1 expression in chondrocytes, thereby inducing inflammation and suppressing chondrocyte proliferation. CREB1 was found to have a positive correlation with ABCA1 expression, while down-regulation of CREB1 resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation and aggravated inflammation, which could be reversed by overexpressed ABCA1.

CONCLUSION

Taken altogether, silencing of SGK1 alleviated OA through epigenetic regulation of CREB1 and ABCA1 expression. These findings may provide novel insight into SGK1-based strategy for OA treatment.

Overview of MMP-13 as a Promising Target for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease characterized by the destruction of articular cartilage and chronic inflammation of surrounding tissues. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) is the primary MMP involved in cartilage degradation through its particular ability to cleave type II collagen. Hence, it is an attractive target for the treatment of OA. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of OA initiation and progression remain elusive, and, currently, there are no interventions available to restore degraded cartilage. This review fully illustrates the involvement of MMP-13 in the initiation and progression of OA through the regulation of MMP-13 activity at the molecular and epigenetic levels, as well as the strategies that have been employed against MMP-13. The aim of this review is to identify MMP-13 as an attractive target for inhibitor development in the treatment of OA.

Current perspectives on inhibitory SMAD7 in health and disease

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family members play an extensive role in cellular communication that orchestrates both early development and adult tissue homeostasis. Aberrant TGF-β family signaling is associated with a pathological outcome in numerous diseases, and in-depth understanding of molecular and cellular processes could result in therapeutic benefit for patients. Canonical TGF-β signaling is mediated by receptor-regulated SMADs (R-SMADs), a single co-mediator SMAD (Co-SMAD), and inhibitory SMADs (I-SMADs). SMAD7, one of the I-SMADs, is an essential negative regulator of the pleiotropic TGF-β and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways. In a negative feedback loop, SMAD7 inhibits TGF-β signaling by providing competition for TGF-β type-1 receptor (TβRI), blocking phosphorylation and activation of SMAD2. Moreover, SMAD7 recruits E3 ubiquitin SMURF ligases to the type I receptor to promote ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation. In addition to its role in TGF-β and BMP signaling, SMAD7 is regulated by and implicated in a variety of other signaling pathways and functions as a mediator of crosstalk. This review is focused on SMAD7, its function in TGF-β and BMP signaling, and its role as a downstream integrator and crosstalk mediator. This crucial signaling molecule is tightly regulated by various mechanisms. We provide an overview of the ways by which SMAD7 is regulated, including noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and post-translational modifications (PTMs). Finally, we discuss its role in diseases, such as cancer, fibrosis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

An integrated analysis of the competing endogenous RNA network and co-expression network revealed seven hub long non-coding RNAs in osteoarthritis

Aims

This study aimed to uncover the hub long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) differentially expressed in osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage using an integrated analysis of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and co-expression network.

Methods

Expression profiles data of ten OA and ten normal tissues of human knee cartilage were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE114007). The differentially expressed messenger RNAs (DEmRNAs) and lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified using the edgeR package. We integrated human microRNA (miRNA)-lncRNA/mRNA interactions with DElncRNA/DEmRNA expression profiles to construct a ceRNA network. Likewise, lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles were used to build a co-expression network with the WGCNA package. Potential hub lncRNAs were identified based on an integrated analysis of the ceRNA network and co-expression network. StarBase and Multi Experiment Matrix databases were used to verify the lncRNAs.

Results

We detected 1,212 DEmRNAs and 49 DElncRNAs in OA and normal knee cartilage. A total of 75 dysregulated lncRNA-miRNA interactions and 711 dysregulated miRNA-mRNA interactions were obtained in the ceRNA network, including ten DElncRNAs, 69 miRNAs, and 72 DEmRNAs. Similarly, 1,330 dysregulated lncRNA-mRNA interactions were used to construct the co-expression network, which included ten lncRNAs and 407 mRNAs. We finally identified seven hub lncRNAs, named MIR210HG, HCP5, LINC00313, LINC00654, LINC00839, TBC1D3P1-DHX40P1, and ISM1-AS1. Subsequent enrichment analysis elucidated that these lncRNAs regulated extracellular matrix organization and enriched in osteoclast differentiation, the FoxO signalling pathway, and the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) signalling pathway in the development of OA.

Conclusion

The integrated analysis of the ceRNA network and co-expression network identified seven hub lncRNAs associated with OA. These lncRNAs may regulate extracellular matrix changes and chondrocyte homeostasis in OA progress.

Cite this article:Bone Joint Res. 2020;9(3):90–98.

Oxysterol 25-hydroxycholesterol as a metabolic pathophysiological factors of osteoarthritis induces apoptosis in primary rat chondrocytes

The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathophysiological etiology of osteoarthritis that is mediated by the apoptosis of chondrocytes exposed to 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC), an oxysterol synthesized by the expression of cholesterol-25-hydroxylase (CH25H) under inflammatory conditions. Interleukin-1β induced the apoptosis of chondrocytes in a dose- dependent manner. Furthermore, the production of 25-HC increased in the chondrocytes treated with interleukin-1β through the expression of CH25H. 25-HC decreased the viability of chondrocytes. Chondrocytes with condensed nucleus and apoptotic populations increased by 25-HC. Moreover, the activity and expression of caspase-3 were increased by the death ligand-mediated extrinsic and mitochondria-dependent intrinsic apoptotic pathways in the chondrocytes treated with 25-HC. Finally, 25-HC induced not only caspase-dependent apoptosis, but also induced proteoglycan loss in articular cartilage ex vivo cultured rat knee joints. These data indicate that 25-HC may act as a metabolic pathophysiological factor in osteoarthritis that is mediated by progressive chondrocyte death in the articular cartilage with inflammatory condition.

Impact of miR-SNP rs2910164 on miR-146a expression in osteoarthritic chondrocytes

PURPOSE

MiR-146a acts as a negative inflammatory mediator in different diseases and has been implicated in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. In our study, we investigated the association between miR-SNP rs2910164 and OA susceptibility and its role on the expression of miR-146a, inflammatory and catabolic mediators in osteoarthritic chondrocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Genetic association analysis was performed in 1688 knee OA patients and healthy individuals of Greek origin. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood and genotyped for rs2910164 (G > C) using Restriction-Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). Total RNA was extracted from chondrocytes of 18 OA patients and miR-146a, IL-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 1 (IRAK-1), TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 (TRAF-6), A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs 5 (ADAMTS-5), Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) expression was evaluated using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

OA patients carrying rs2910164-GC and CC genotypes did not have an increased risk for OA development compared to GG genotype carriers. MiR-146a expression in OA chondrocytes was significantly lower in patients with rs2910164-GC genotype than in the GG carriers. OA patients carrying the rs2910164-GC genotype in their chondrocytes exhibited increased IRAK-1, TRAF-6, MMP-13, IL-1β and IL-6 expression levels compared with rs2910164-GG carriers.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate, for the first time, that miR-SNP rs2910164 in miR-146a gene is associated with reduced miR-146a and increased inflammatory and catabolic mediators' expression in OA chondrocytes. Our data imply that genetic variations in miRNAs linked to OA pathogenesis may regulate their expression levels, suggesting new therapeutic strategies for patients with cartilage diseases.

Polymorphisms in COMT, ADRB2 and HTR1A genes are associated with temporomandibular disorders in individuals with other arthralgias

Objective: To evaluate the association between polymorphisms in genes and comorbid presence of arthralgias and TMD.Methods: This is a case-control study. The groups formed were individuals with chronic arthralgia and 1) myofascial pain (n = 42); 2) articular (n = 16); 3) multiple diagnoses (n = 69); 4) with TMD and without some other arthralgia (n = 16); 5) without TMD but with pain in other joints (n = 82); and 6) a control group (n = 72). SNPs in COMT, ADRB2, and HTR1A genes were investigated.Results: The CT genotype for the COMT (rs9332377) gene was associated with the absence of myofascial pain (p = .05). In the ADRB2 (rs1042713) gene, the AA genotype was associated with the absence of myofascial pain (p = .03).Discussion: This study supports the hypothesis that alterations in the COMT, ADRB2, and HTR1A genes influence the presence of chronic pain and TMD.

RASSF1C regulates miR-33a and EMT marker gene expression in lung cancer cells

RASSF1C functions as an oncogene in lung cancer cells by stimulating proliferation and migration, and reducing apoptosis. Further, RASSF1C up-regulates important protein-coding and non-coding genes involved in lung cancer cell growth, including the stem cell self-renewal gene, piwil1, and small noncoding PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). In this article, we report the identification of microRNAs (miRNAs) that are modulated in lung cancer cells over-expressing RASSF1C. A lung cancer-specific miRNA PCR array screen was performed to identify RASSF1C target miRNA-coding genes using RNA isolated from the lung cancer cell line H1299 stably over-expressing RASSF1C and corresponding control. Several modulated miRNA genes were identified that are important in cancer cell proliferation and survival. Among the miRNAs down-regulated by RASSF1C is miRNA-33a-5p (miRNA-33a), which functions as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer cells. We validated that over-expression of RASSF1C down-regulates miR-33a expression and RASSF1C knockdown up-regulates miR-33a expression. We found that RASSF1C over-expression also increases β-catenin, vimentin, and snail protein levels in cells over-expressing miR-33a. In addition, we found that RASSF1C up-regulates the expression of ABCA1 mRNA which is a known target of miR-33a. Our findings suggest that RASSF1C may promote lung epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), resulting in the development of a lung cancer stem cell phenotype, progression, and metastasis, in part, through modulation of miR-33a expression. Our findings reveal a new mechanistic insight into how RASSF1C functions as an oncogene.

Onset and Progression of Human Osteoarthritis-Can Growth Factors, Inflammatory Cytokines, or Differential miRNA Expression Concomitantly Induce Proliferation, ECM Degradation, and Inflammation in Articular Cartilage?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative whole joint disease, for which no preventative or therapeutic biological interventions are available. This is likely due to the fact that OA pathogenesis includes several signaling pathways, whose interactions remain unclear, especially at disease onset. Early OA is characterized by three key events: a rarely considered early phase of proliferation of cartilage-resident cells, in contrast to well-established increased synthesis, and degradation of extracellular matrix components and inflammation, associated with OA progression. We focused on the question, which of these key events are regulated by growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, and/or miRNA abundance. Collectively, we elucidated a specific sequence of the OA key events that are described best as a very early phase of proliferation of human articular cartilage (AC) cells and concomitant anabolic/catabolic effects that are accompanied by incipient pro-inflammatory effects. Many of the reviewed factors appeared able to induce one or two key events. Only one factor, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), is capable of concomitantly inducing all key events. Moreover, AC cell proliferation cannot be induced and, in fact, is suppressed by inflammatory signaling, suggesting that inflammatory signaling cannot be the sole inductor of all early OA key events, especially at disease onset.

The Involvement of MicroRNAs in Osteoarthritis and Recent Developments: A Narrative Review

Background:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint disease and it may progressively cause disability and compromise quality of life. Lately, the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of OA has drawn a lot of attention. miRNAs are small, single-stranded, non-coding molecules of RNA which regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level. The dysregulation of the expression of several miRNAs affects pathways involved in OA pathogenesis.

Objective:

The purpose of this article is to review the literature on the involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of OA and the implications on its diagnosis and treatment.

Materials and Methods:

An extensive electronic literature search was conducted by two researchers from January 2008 to August 2017. Titles and abstracts of papers were screened by the authors for further inclusion in the present work. Finally, full texts of the selected articles were retrieved.

Results:

Abnormally expressed miRNAs enhance the production of cartilage degrading enzymes, inhibit the expression of cartilage matrix components, increase the production of proinflammatory cytokines, facilitate chondrocyte apoptosis, suppress autophagy in chondrocytes and are involved in pain-related pathways. miRNAs are also incorporated in extra-cellular membranous vesicles such as exosomes and participate in the intercellular communication in osteoarthritic joints.

Conclusion:

Ongoing research on miRNAs has potential implications in the diagnosis and treatment of OA. Their different levels in peripheral blood and synovial fluid between OA patients and healthy population makes them candidates for being used as biomarkers of the disease, while targeting miRNAs may be a novel therapeutic strategy in OA.

Emerging Players at the Intersection of Chondrocyte Loss of Maturational Arrest, Oxidative Stress, Senescence and Low-Grade Inflammation in Osteoarthritis

The prevalence of Osteoarthritis (OA) is increasing because of the progressive aging and unhealthy lifestyle. These risk factors trigger OA by removing constraints that keep the tightly regulated low turnover of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of articular cartilage, the correct chondrocyte phenotype, and the functionality of major homeostatic mechanisms, such as mitophagy, that allows for the clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria, preventing increased production of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and senescence. After OA onset, the presence of ECM degradation products is perceived as a “danger” signal by the chondrocytes and the synovial macrophages that release alarmins with autocrine/paracrine effects on the same cells. Alarmins trigger innate immunity in the joint, with important systemic crosstalks that explain the beneficial effects of dietary interventions and improved lifestyle. Alarmins also boost low-grade inflammation: the release of inflammatory molecules and chemokines sustained by continuous triggering of NF-κB within an altered cellular setting that allows its higher transcriptional activity. Chemokines exert pleiotropic functions in OA, including the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the induction of ECM remodeling. Some chemokines have been successfully targeted to attenuate structural damage or pain in OA animal models. This represents a promising strategy for the future management of human OA.

Serum microRNA array analysis identifies miR-140-3p, miR-33b-3p and miR-671-3p as potential osteoarthritis biomarkers involved in metabolic processes

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in circulation have emerged as promising biomarkers. In this study, we aimed to identify a circulating miRNA signature for osteoarthritis (OA) patients and in combination with bioinformatics analysis to evaluate the utility of selected differentially expressed miRNAs in the serum as potential OA biomarkers.

Methods

Serum samples were collected from 12 primary OA patients, and 12 healthy individuals were screened using the Agilent Human miRNA Microarray platform interrogating 2549 miRNAs. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the deregulated miRNAs. Expression levels of selected miRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in all serum and in articular cartilage samples from OA patients (n = 12) and healthy individuals (n = 7). Bioinformatics analysis was used to investigate the involved pathways and target genes for the above miRNAs.

Results

We identified 279 differentially expressed miRNAs in the serum of OA patients compared to controls. Two hundred and five miRNAs (73.5%) were upregulated and 74 (26.5%) downregulated. ROC analysis revealed that 77 miRNAs had area under the curve (AUC) > 0.8 and p < 0.05. Bioinformatics analysis in the 77 miRNAs revealed that their target genes were involved in multiple signaling pathways associated with OA, among which FoxO, mTOR, Wnt, pI3K/akt, TGF-β signaling pathways, ECM-receptor interaction, and fatty acid biosynthesis. qRT-PCR validation in seven selected out of the 77 miRNAs revealed 3 significantly downregulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-33b-3p, hsa-miR-671-3p, and hsa-miR-140-3p) in the serum of OA patients, which were in silico predicted to be enriched in pathways involved in metabolic processes. Target-gene analysis of hsa-miR-140-3p, hsa-miR-33b-3p, and hsa-miR-671-3p revealed that InsR and IGFR1 were common targets of all three miRNAs, highlighting their involvement in regulation of metabolic processes that contribute to OA pathology. Hsa-miR-140-3p and hsa-miR-671-3p expression levels were consistently downregulated in articular cartilage of OA patients compared to healthy individuals.

Conclusions

A serum miRNA signature was established for the first time using high density resolution miR-arrays in OA patients. We identified a three-miRNA signature, hsa-miR-140-3p, hsa-miR-671-3p, and hsa-miR-33b-3p, in the serum of OA patients, predicted to regulate metabolic processes, which could serve as a potential biomarker for the evaluation of OA risk and progression.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-017-0428-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

New insights on the MMP-13 regulatory network in the pathogenesis of early osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder and affects approximately half of the aged population. Current treatments for OA are largely palliative until the articular cartilage has been deeply damaged and irreversible morphological changes appear. Thus, effective methods are needed for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of OA during its early stages when therapeutic drugs or biological agents are most likely to be effective. Various proteinases involved in articular cartilage degeneration in pre-OA conditions, which may represent the earliest reversible measurable changes, are considered diagnostic and therapeutic targets for early OA. Of these proteinases, matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) has received the most attention, because it is a central node in the cartilage degradation network. In this review, we highlight the main MMP-13-related changes in OA chondrocytes, including alterations in the activity and expression level of MMP-13 by upstream regulatory factors, DNA methylation, various non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and autophagy. Because MMP-13 and its regulatory networks are suitable targets for the development of effective early treatment strategies for OA, we discuss the specific targets of MMP-13, including upstream regulatory proteins, DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs, and autophagy-related proteins of MMP-13, and their therapeutic potential to inhibit the development of OA. Moreover, the various entities mentioned in this review might be useful as early biomarkers and for personalized approaches to disease prevention and treatment by improving the phenotyping of early OA patients.

miR-33 inhibition attenuates the effect of liver X receptor agonist T0901317 on expression of liver X receptor alpha in mice liver

BACKGROUND

microRNAs play pivotal roles in metabolism and other aspects of cell biology. microRNA-33 and liver X receptor (LXR) affect lipid metabolism and cholesterol trafficking. In this study, we evaluated effects of co-administration of miR-33 inhibitor and LXR activator on LXR-α and adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression in mice liver.

METHODS

Twenty-four mice were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 6). Group 1 mice received standard chow diet without any treatment, group 2 received 30 mg/kg/48 hour LXR agonist (T0901317), group 3 received 1 mg/kg/48 hour in vivo locked nucleic acids (LNA) anti-miR-33 and group 4 received both T0901317 and in vivo LNA anti-miR-33. All treatments were administrated through intraperitoneal injection (IP). After 7 days and at the end of the study, mice were sacrificed, liver tissues were excised and blood samples were collected. LXR-α and ABCA1 genes and protein expression were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

LXR activation caused LXR-α and ABCA1 mRNA (P < 0.050) and protein elevation as compared to control (P < 0.001). miR-33 inhibition attenuates T0901317 effect on LXR-α expression in group IV. Co-administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 remarkably elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, compared to control group (P = 0.001). Separate administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 also elevated HDL-C levels (P < 0.010).

CONCLUSION

Co-administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 can be considered as a good therapeutic alternative for atherosclerosis because miR-33 inhibition reduced lipogenic effects of LXR-α activator and also helps LXR-α agonist to increase reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and also HDL-C as antiatherogenic effects.

A bioinformatic analysis of microRNAs role in osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the underlying function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in osteoarthritis (OA).

DESIGN

A bioinformatic analysis of miRNAs-OA studies was completed in multiple databases. All identified articles were assessed using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria (Eligible case-control studies for the present study included those which investigated miRNAs differential expression in cartilage tissues and cells of OA and controls. Abstracts, case reports, conference presentations, editorials, and expert opinions were excluded.). We performed bioinformatic analysis and assessed which miRNAs are commonly elevated or decreased in cartilage of OA, and assessed putative targets of these miRNAs using TargetScan, Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), FunRich and String.

RESULTS

Fifty seven studies were included in this study. Our current review has identified 46 differentially expressed miRNAs involved in autophagy, inflammation, chondrocyte apoptosis, chondrocyte differentiation & homeostasis, chondrocyte metabolism and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Additionally, our literature search identified a wide range of miRNAs that have been shown to be differentially expressed in OA. The function of up-regulated miRNAs primarily target nucleus, whereas the function of down-regulated miRNAs primarily target transcription.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprehensive analysis of all miRNAs studies reveals cooperation in miRNA signatures and suggests that there may be two biologically synergic classes of miRNAs that are associated with OA. This finding suggests that miRNAs may be useful as diagnostic biomarkers and/or may provide new therapeutic targets in OA. Furthermore, a better understanding of the targets of these miRNAs will accelerate biomedical discoveries and improve clinical care based on new knowledge of OA-related disease mechanisms.

MicroRNAs and Autophagy: Fine Players in the Control of Chondrocyte Homeostatic Activities in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating degenerative disease of the articular cartilage with a multifactorial etiology. Aging, the main risk factor for OA development, is associated with a systemic oxidative and inflammatory phenotype. Autophagy is a central housekeeping system that plays an antiaging role by supporting the clearance of senescence-associated alterations of macromolecules and organelles. Autophagy deficiency has been related to OA pathogenesis because of the accumulation of cellular defects in chondrocytes. Microribonucleic acids (microRNAs or miRs) are a well-established class of posttranscriptional modulators belonging to the family of noncoding RNAs that have been identified as key players in the regulation of cellular processes, such as autophagy, by targeting their own cognate mRNAs. Here, we present a state-of-the-art literature review on the role of miRs and autophagy in the scenario of OA pathogenesis. In addition, a comprehensive survey has been performed on the functional connections of the miR network and the autophagy pathway in OA by using "microRNA," "autophagy," and "osteoarthritis" as key words. Discussion of available evidence sheds light on some aspects that need further investigation in order to reach a more comprehensive view of the potential of this topic in OA.

Combination of circulating miR-19b-3p, miR-122-5p and miR-486-5p expressions correlates with risk and disease severity of knee osteoarthritis

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of circulating miRNAs profile with the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA), and evaluate their correlation with clinical characteristics. This study was divided into two parts: exploration stage and validation stage. In exploration stage, 8 knee OA patients and 8 age and gender highly matched health controls (HCs) were recruited, and plasma sample were collected for microarray examination. Differentially expressed miRNAs and enrichment analysis were subsequently performed. In validation stage, 100 knee OA patients and 100 age and gender matched HCs were enrolled, and Top 8 differentially expressed miRNAs in microarray were selected for further validation by qPCR. In exploration stage, 41 up-regulated miRNAs and 29 down-regulated miRNAs were identified by microarray, and enrichment analysis disclosed these miRNAs were involved in inflammation- and immunity- related process. Top 8 differentially expressed miRNAs in microarray were determined in the validation stage, and miR-19b-3p, miR-92a-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-486-5p and miR-320b expression were increased in knee OA. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis showed only miR-19b-3p, miR-122-5p and miR-486-5p were independent factors for knee OA risk, and ROC curve showed combination of miR-19b-3p, miR-122-5p and miR-486-5p has a great diagnostic value for knee OA. Besides, miR-19b-3p and miR-486-5p positively correlates with disease severity. This study revealed that circulating miRNA profiles played a key role in knee OA diagnosis, and combined measurement of miR-19b-3p, miR-122-5p and miR-486-5p could be served as a novel and promising biomarker for diagnosis and disease severity of knee OA.

The role of miR-320a and IL-1β in human chondrocyte degradation

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the role of miR-320a in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Human cartilage cells (C28/I2) were transfected with miR-320a or antisense oligonucleotides (ASO)-miR-320a, and treated with IL-1β. Subsequently the expression of collagen type II alpha 1 (Col2α1) and aggrecan (ACAN), and the concentrations of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) and matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13), were assessed. Luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blot were performed to explore whether pre-B-cell leukemia Homeobox 3 (PBX3) was a target of miR-320a. Furthermore, cells were co-transfected with miR-320a and PBX3 expressing vector, or cells were transfected with miR-320a and treated with a nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) antagonist MG132. The changes in Col2α1 and ACAN expression, and in sGAG and MMP-13 concentrations, were measured again. Statistical comparisons were made between two groups by using the two-tailed paired t-test.

Results

Expression of miR-320a was elevated in OA cartilage tissues and chondrocytes, and in IL-1β-stimulated C28/I2 cells (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). MiR-320a overexpression enhanced IL-1β-induced down-regulation of Col2α1 and ACAN and sGAG, and increased the IL-1β-induced overexpression of MMP-13 (p < 0.01). PBX3 was a direct target of miR-320a. PBX3 and MG132 co-transfection attenuated the effects of miR-320a on the expression of Col2α1, ACAN, sGAG and MMP-13(p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Overexpression of miR-320a might enhance IL-1β-induced cartilage degradation factors. These effects might be via targeting PBX3 and regulating NF-κB.

Cite this article: Y. Jin, X. Chen, Z. Y. Gao, K. Liu, Y. Hou, J. Zheng. The role of miR-320a and IL-1β in human chondrocyte degradation. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:–203. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.64.BJR-2016-0224.R1.

[Molecular biological research progress of non-coding RNAs modulating osteoarthritis]

Objective

To summarize the molecular biological research progress of non-coding RNAs modulating osteoarthritis (OA), and provide a reference basis for biological study and clinical treatment of OA.

Methods

Recent domestic and foreign related literature about the regulation of OA pathological process by non-coding RNAs was widely reviewed.

Results

Non-coding RNAs can be divided into three types based on the length of RNA. A lot of non-coding RNAs participating in OA pathological process are screened out by high throughput sequencing technology and microarray technology, and it is verified that these non-coding RNAs involve in the regulation of OA by RT-PCR. The mechanism of OA mediated target is clarified by knocking-down and overexpressing of the most prominent expressed non-coding RNAs in OA. There are the complicated gene expressed network topology in non-coding RNAs, and between non-coding RNAs and coding RNAs. It provides a basis for clearing the effect of gene structure and function, and finding the definite therapeutic target of OA.

Conclusion

There is preliminary study on molecular biological mechanism of non-coding RNAs mediating OA, but the key structure or sequence of non-coding RNAs, formation and interaction of effecting composite structure about mediating OA are unknown, and it needs further study.

Osteoarthritis year in review 2016: genetics, genomics and epigenetics

The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview of last year's publications in the field of genetics, genomics and epigenetics in the osteoarthritis (OA) field. Major themes arising from a Pubmed search on (epi)genetics in OA were identified. In addition, general developments in the fast evolving field of (epi)genetics are reviewed and relevance for the OA field is summarized. In the last 5 years, a number of genome-wide association studies have identified a modest number of genetic loci associated to OA. Continued functional research into these DNA variants is showing putative biological mechanisms underlying these associations. Over the last year, no additional large genome-wide association studies were published, but there clearly remains much to be discovered in the OA genetic field. A lot of research has been done into the epigenetics of OA over the last year. Several genome-wide screens examining the methylome of osteoarthritic cartilage were done. Pathway analysis confirmed deregulation of developmental and extracellular pathways in OA cartilage. Over the last year many microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified that potentially play important roles in cartilage homeostasis and/or OA process. Continued research will learn whether these identified miRNAs are truly causal and can be used in clinical applications. Many of the epigenetic findings need further confirmation, but they highlight potential novel pathways involved in cartilage biology and OA.

The Role of miRNAs in Common Inflammatory Arthropathies: Osteoarthritis and Gouty Arthritis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA species that are highly evolutionarily conserved, from higher invertebrates to man. Up to 1000 miRNAs have been identified in human cells thus far, where they are key regulators of the expression of numerous targets at the post-transcriptional level. They are implicated in various processes, including cell differentiation, metabolism, and inflammation. An expanding list of miRNAs is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of common, non-autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Interestingly, osteoarthritis (OA) is now being conceptualized as a metabolic disease, as there is a correlation among hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Experimental evidence suggests that metabolic deregulation is a commonality between these different pathological entities, and that miRNAs are key players in the modulation of metabolic routes. In light of these findings, this review discusses the role of miRNAs in OA and gouty arthritis, as well as the possible therapeutic targetability of miRNAs in these diseases.

miRNAs Related to Skeletal Diseases

miRNAs as non-coding, short, double-stranded RNA segments are important for cellular biological functions, such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. miRNAs mainly contribute to the inhibition of important protein translations through their cleavage or direct repression of target messenger RNAs expressions. In the last decade, miRNAs got in the focus of interest with new publications on miRNAs in the context of different diseases. For many types of cancer or myocardial damage, typical signatures of local or systemically circulating miRNAs have already been described. However, little is known about miRNA expressions and their molecular effect in skeletal diseases. An overview of published studies reporting miRNAs detection linked with skeletal diseases was conducted. All regulated miRNAs were summarized and their molecular interactions were illustrated. This review summarizes the involvement and interaction of miRNAs in different skeletal diseases. Thereby, 59 miRNAs were described to be deregulated in tissue, cells, or in the circulation of osteoarthritis (OA), 23 miRNAs deregulated in osteoporosis, and 107 miRNAs deregulated in osteosarcoma (OS). The molecular influences of miRNAs regarding OA, osteoporosis, and OS were illustrated. Specific miRNA signatures for skeletal diseases are described in the literature. Some overlapped, but also unique ones for each disease exist. These miRNAs may present useful targets for the development of new therapeutic approaches and are candidates for diagnostic evaluations.

The Role of MicroRNAs and Their Targets in Osteoarthritis

Micro ribonucleic acid (microRNA) regulation and expression has become an emerging field in determining the mechanisms regulating a variety of inflammation-mediated diseases. Several studies have focused on specific microRNAs that are differentially expressed in cases of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, several targets of these miRNAs important in disease progression have also been identified. In this review, we focus on microRNA biogenesis, regulation, detection, and quantification with an emphasis on cellular localization and how these concepts may be linked to disease processes such as osteoarthritis. Next, we review the relationships of specific microRNAs to certain features and risk factors associated with osteoarthritis such as inflammation, obesity, autophagy, and cartilage homeostasis. We also identify certain microRNAs that are differentially expressed in osteoarthritis but have unidentified targets and functions in the disease state. Lastly, we identify the potential use of microRNAs for therapeutic purposes and also mention certain remedies that regulate microRNA expression.

MicroRNAs: exploring new horizons in osteoarthritis

INTRODUCTION

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease worldwide leading to significant morbidity. The underlying disease process is multifactorial however there is increasing focus on molecular mechanisms. MicroRNAs are small non-coding segments of RNA that have important regulatory functions at a cellular level. These molecules are readily detectable in human tissues and circulation. They are increasingly recognised as having a major role in many disease processes - including malignancy and inflammatory processes.

OBJECTIVE

This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive update on the evidence for miRNA roles in OA.

DESIGN

A comprehensive literature search was performed using key medical subject headings (MeSH) terms 'microRNA' and 'osteoarthritis'.

RESULTS

Several miRNAs have been identified as having aberrant expression levels in OA. Some of these include miR-9, miR-27, miR-34a, miR-140, miR-146a, miR-558 and miR-602. Many of the dysregulated miRNAs have been shown to regulate expression of inflammatory pathways such as interleukin-mediated or matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13)-mediated degradation of the articular cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM). MiRNAs may also play a role in pain pathways and hence expression of clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent evidence has shown that miRNAs in the circulation may reflect underlying disease states and hence serve as potential markers for disease activity. These findings may represent possible future therapeutic applications in the management of OA.

Overexpression of microRNA-634 suppresses survival and matrix synthesis of human osteoarthritis chondrocytes by targeting PIK3R1

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by deterioration of articular cartilage. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of some microRNAs in cartilage damage. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the expression of microRNA-634 (miR-634) in normal and OA chondrocytes, and to determine its role in OA pathogenesis. Human normal and OA chondrocytes obtained from patients were cultured in vitro. Transfection with miR-634 mimic or inhibitor was employed to investigate the effect of miR-634 on chondrocyte survival and matrix synthesis, and to identify miR-634 target. The results indicated that miR-634 was expressed at lower level in high grade OA chondrocyte compared with normal chondrocytes. Overexpression of miR-634 could inhibit cell survival and matrix synthesis in high grade OA chondrocytes. Furthermore, miR-634 targeted PIK3R1 gene that encodes the regulatory subunit 1 of class I PI3K (p85α) and exerted its inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, and S6 signal molecules in high grade OA chondrocytes. Therefore, the data suggested that miR-634 could suppress survival and matrix synthesis of high grade OA chondrocytes through targeting PIK3R1 gene to modulate the PI3K/Akt/S6 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6 axes, with important implication for validating miR-634 as a potential target for OA therapy.