Isobavachalcone inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis via miR-193-3p/NF-κB/NFATc1 signaling pathway in BMMs cells

Inhibition of extensive osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption is considered a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of osteoporosis. Isobavachalcone (IBC) is derived from the traditional Chinese herb Psoralea corylifolia Linn. We showed that IBC dose-dependently suppressed receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow monocyte/macrophage (BMMs) and osteoclastic bone-resorption function without cytotoxicity at a dose of no more than 8 µmin vitro. Mechanistically, the results of western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) indicated that IBC inhibited the RANKL-induced degradation of IκBα and phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in BMMs, and subsequently downregulated the expression of osteoclastic-specific genes and osteoclastogenesis-related proteins. TRAP staining and qRT-PCR showed that IBC can inhibit osteoclast differentiation by down-regulating the expression of miR-193-3p on osteoclast differentiation. Overall, our findings suggest that IBC may serve as a promising compound for the treatment of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases.

miR-193-3p ameliorates bone resorption in ovariectomized mice by blocking NFATc1 signaling

BACKGROUND

Nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) as a key transcription factor contributes to osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. However, the post-transcriptional mechanisms of microRNAs (miRNAs) targeted to NFATc1 have not been completely clarified in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). In our study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-193-3p in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss by regulating the NFATc1 pathway.

METHODS

Female C57BL/6J mice underwent sham or OVX operation. Injection of Agomir-Control or Agomir-miR-193-3p was performed in OVX mice. Serum, urine and tibia were collected for experimental measurements, including biochemical markers, RT-qPCR and western blotting assays.

RESULTS

We identified NFATc1 as a direct target of miR-193-3p. Up-regulation of NFATc1 and down-regulation of miR-193-3p were found in the tibia of OVX mice. Gain-of-function of miR-193-3p resulted in the reduction of NFATc1 mRNA and protein expression in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, injection of Agomir-miR-193-3p markedly ameliorated OVX-induced Ca²⁺ dyshomeostasis and bone loss by inhibiting the expression of NFATc1 and its downstream targets of osteoclast-specific genes, Ctsk, TRAP and Car2.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of miR-193-3p had an osteoprotective effect in OVX mice by suppressing NFATc1 pathways.

Downregulation of microRNA-193-3p inhibits tumor proliferation migration and chemoresistance in human gastric cancer by regulating PTEN gene

In this study, we investigated the functional mechanisms of microRNA-193-3p (miR-193-3p) in human gastric cancer. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assess whether miR-193-3p was aberrantly expressed in gastric cancer cells and clinical samples from gastric cancer patients. Gastric cancer cell line AGS and MKN-45 cells were stably transduced with lentivirus to downregulate endogenous miR-193-3p. The modulation of miR-193-3p downregulation on gastric cancer proliferation, migration, chemo-drug responses, and tumor explant were assessed by MTT, wound-healing, 5-FU chemoresistance and in vivo tumorigenicity assays, respectively. Downstream target of miR-193-3p, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in gastric cancer, was assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot. PTEN was knocked down by siRNA in AGS and MKN-45 cells to assess its direct impact on miR-193-3p modulation in gastric cancer. MiR-193-3p was aberrantly upregulated in both gastric cell lines and human gastric tumors. In AGS and MKN-45 cells, miR-193-3p downregulation reduced cancer proliferation, migration and 5-FU chemoresistance in vitro, and tumorigenicity in vivo. PTEN was confirmed to be targeted by miR-193-3p in gastric cancer. PTEN inhibition in AGS and MKN-45 cells directly reversed the anti-tumor modulations of miR-193-3p downregulation on gastric cancer proliferation, migration, and 5-FU chemoresistance. We presented clear evidence showing miR-193-3p played critical role in regulating human gastric cancer through direct targeting on PTEN gene.