bims-mirbon Biomed News
on MicroRNAs in bone
Issue of 2022–01–09
four papers selected by
Japneet Kaur, Mayo Clinic



  1. Bioengineered. 2022 Jan;13(1): 684-696
      We aimed to assess the regulatory effects of miR-28 on the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs). HBMMSCs isolated, cultured and induced (at P3) to undergo osteogenic induction. The expressions of miRNAs were detected by gene microarray, and differentially expressed miRNAs in hBMMSCs compared with induced cells were obtained by significance analysis of microarrays. The microarray findings were confirmed by RT-PCR. TargetScan showed that signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) was the downstream target gene of miR-28. The relationship between miR-28 and STAT1 was validated using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. HBMMSCs were transfected with miR-28 mimics and STAT1 siRNA, respectively. Samples were collected on day 10 after osteogenic differentiation, and the alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2, a key regulator of osteogenic differentiation) and STAT1 expressions were determined using kits, PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Cell proliferation and migration were detected through CCK-8 and Transwell assays, respectively. During the osteogenic differentiation of hBMMSCs, the expression level of miR-28 increased. MiR-28 specifically bound the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of STAT1 mRNA. It inhibited STAT1 expression in a targeted manner during osteogenic differentiation. Interference with STAT1 partially mimicked the regulatory effects of miR-28 overexpression on the osteogenic differentiation of hBMMSCs. Interference with STAT1 or overexpression of miR-28 did not affect proliferation or migration. MiR-28 has gradually increased expression during the osteogenic differentiation of hBMMSCs, which can directly bind STAT1 3'UTR and inhibit its expression, thereby up-regulating AKP and RUNX2, and promoting osteogenic differentiation.
    Keywords:  Mir-28; human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell; osteogenic differentiation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2021.2012618
  2. Bioengineered. 2022 Jan;13(1): 1736-1745
      Accumulating studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Nevertheless, the specific function of miR-128-3p in OA remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-128-3p was decreased and ZEB1 was increased in OA. Additionally, miR-128-3p expression was negatively correlated with ZEB1. miR-128-3p overexpression or ZEB1 silencing attenuated extracellular matrix degradation and cell apoptosis, and increased the proliferation of IL-1β-activated CHON-001 cells. Furthermore, ZEB1 was directly targeted by miR-128-3p. In addition, ZEB1 upregulation restored the effects of miR-128-3p overexpression on OA progression. Overall, our findings suggested that miR-128-3p might regulate the development of OA via targeting ZEB1.
    Keywords:  Mir-128-3p; ZEB1; apoptosis; extracellular matrix; osteoarthritis
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2021.2019879
  3. J Orthop Surg Res. 2022 Jan 04. 17(1): 5
       BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Several studies reported that fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and miRNAs are associated with RA pathogenesis. This study explored the function of miR-653-5p in the regulation of human fibroblast-like synoviocytes-rheumatoid arthritis (HFLS-RA) cells.
    METHODS: The mRNA and protein levels of genes were measured by RT-qPCR and western blot, respectively. MTT, wound healing, and invasion assays were used to evaluate the viability and metastasis of FLSs. Luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays were employed to determine the interaction between miR-653-5p and FGF2.
    RESULTS: RT-qPCR results demonstrated that miR-653-5p expression was decreased and FGF2 level was increased in synovial tissues and FLSs of RA. Moreover, the viability and metastasis of FLSs were accelerated by miR-653-5p addition, which was restrained by miR-653-5p suppression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that levels of Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA were decreased after miR-653-5p addition. Besides, luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays implied that miR-653-5p targeted the 3'-UTR of FGF2. Functional assays showed that FGF2 overexpression neutralized the suppressive effects of miR-653-5p addition on HFLS-RA cell viability, metastasis, and the levels of Rho family proteins. Meanwhile, the levels of β-catenin, cyclin D1, and c-myc were declined by miR-653-5p supplementation, but enhanced by FGF2 addition.
    CONCLUSION: In sum, we manifested that miR-653-5p restrained HFLS-RA cell viability and metastasis via targeting FGF2 and repressing the Wnt/beta-Catenin pathway.
    Keywords:  FGF2; Fibroblast-like synoviocytes; Rheumatoid arthritis; miR-653-5p
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-021-02887-4
  4. Gerontology. 2022 Jan 03. 1-11
       OBJECTIVE: CircCCDC66 is involved in cancer progression, but its role in osteoarthritis (OA) remains unknown. This study was carried out to explore the biological role of circCCDC66 in OA and its underlying mechanism.
    METHODS: The expression levels of miR-3622b-5p and circCCDC66 in OA cartilage tissues were detected by qRT-PCR. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and flow cytometry were used to detect the chondrocyte viability and apoptosis. The expression of chondrocyte inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) was measured by ELISA. The target genes of circCCDC66 and miR-3622b-5p were analyzed by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter gene assay. The relationship between circCCDC66 and miR-3622b-5p was analyzed by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter gene assay.
    RESULTS: It was found that circCCDC66 expression in OA cartilage tissues was upregulated. CircCCDC66 overexpression inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of chondrocytes and increased IL-6 and TNF-α levels in chondrocytes. miR-3622b-5p was predicted to be a downstream target gene of circCCDC66, and circCCDC66 overexpression inhibited miR-3622b-5p expression in chondrocytes. Moreover, miR-3622b-5p expression was downregulated in OA cartilage tissues. miR-3622b-5p overexpression increased chondrocyte proliferation, inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis, and enhanced the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in chondrocytes. In addition, circCCDC66 overexpression enhanced SIRT3 expression in chondrocytes, while miR-3622b-5p overexpression inhibited SIRT3 expression in chondrocytes.
    CONCLUSION: CircCCDC66 promoted OA chondrocyte apoptosis by regulating the miR-3622b-5p/SIRT3 axis. CircCCDC66 may be a new therapeutic target of OA.
    Keywords:  Apoptosis; Chondrocytes; CircCCDC66; Osteoarthritis; Sirtuin 3; miR-3622b-5p
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1159/000520325