miR-468-3p suppresses osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by targeting
Runx2 and inhibits bone formation
Abstract
An improved understanding of the molecular actions underpinning bone
marrow stromal cell (BMSC) differentiation could highlight new
therapeutics for osteoporosis (OP). Current evidence indicates that
microRNAs (miRNAs) exert critical roles in many biological systems,
including osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we examined
miR-468-3p effects on osteogenic differentiation (OD). Distinct
miR-468-3p reductions were identified during OD. MiR-468-3p also
suppressed BMSC OD in gain- and loss-of-function assays, while it
negatively regulated Runx2 as shown by molecular, protein, and
bioinformatics approaches. When Runx2 was inhibited by small-interfering
RNA (siRNA), the inhibitory effects of miR-468-3p toward BMSC
osteogenesis were considerably reversed. Also, silenced miR-468-3p in
ovariectomized (OVX) and sham mice augmented bone mass (BM) and bone
formation (BF) and improved trabecular (Tb) microarchitecture.
Therefore, miR-468-3p is a novel Runx2 regulator with key physiological
action in BF and OD.