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Micro RNA ‐224 enhances the osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs via Rac1
Author(s) -
Cai Qing,
Zheng Peng,
Ma Fuzhe,
Zhang Huiyan,
Li Zuntai,
Fu Qiyue,
Han Chunyu,
Sun Yingying
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
cell biochemistry and function
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1099-0844
pISSN - 0263-6484
DOI - 10.1002/cbf.3373
Subject(s) - downregulation and upregulation , rac1 , chemistry , alkaline phosphatase , mesenchymal stem cell , runx2 , microbiology and biotechnology , osteoblast , cellular differentiation , microrna , wnt signaling pathway , gene knockdown , in vitro , biology , signal transduction , gene , biochemistry , enzyme
Osteogenesis is the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that target specific genes to mediate translational activities. In this study, we investigated how miR‐224 regulates the osteoblastic differentiation of human MSCs (hMSCs) as well as the underlying mechanism. The results revealed the upregulation of miR‐224 during hMSC differentiation. In vitro experiments showed that the downregulation of miR‐224 suppressed the differentiation of hMSCs into osteoblasts. However, upregulation of miR‐224 was concomitant with increased expression of relevant genes and augmented activity of alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, the results indicated that Rac1 acted as the bona fide target of miR‐224 and that Rac1 depletion promoted osteogenic differentiation in miR‐224–silenced hMSCs. In addition, we found that both JAK/STAT3 and Wnt/β‐catenin pathways were repressed by Rac1 depletion using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Our data indicate a novel molecular mechanism in relation to hMSCs differentiation into osteoblasts, which may facilitate bone anabolism via miR‐224. Significance of the study In this study, we mainly explored the effects of miR‐224 on hMSCs differentiation into osteoblasts. We find that induced miR‐224 expression in hMSCs is considered closely associated with specific osteogenesis‐related genes, alkaline phosphatase activity, and matrix mineralization, indicating that miR‐224 may serve as a promising biomarker for osteogenic differentiation. Our data indicate a novel molecular mechanism in relation to hMSCs differentiation into osteoblasts, which may facilitate bone anabolism via miR‐224.