The mechanism of miR-889 regulates osteogenesis in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) can be used for bone regeneration in the specified condition. Osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs is controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs) and other factors. This study was aimed to identify the role and mechanism of miR-889 in regulating the osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs.

Osteoporosis patients and normal control bone tissues were collected and used PCR techniques to identify the change of miR-889 and WNT7A. Moreover, the dynamic change of miR-889 and WNT7A during osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs was also measured. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify the target genes and potential pathways of miR-889. Then, we constructed miR-889 mimic and inhibitor, ALP staining, ARS, osteoblastic-related protein, and Wnt β-catenin signaling pathway-related protein were also measured. WNT7A siRNA was also used to verify the function of miR-889.

In the present study, we showed that miR-889 expression was upregulated in osteoporosis patients than healthy control. However, the miR-889 expression was downregulated during osteogenic differentiation. Bioinformatics analysis found that miR-889 targets 666 genes and mainly through Wnt β-catenin signaling pathway. Administrated miR-889 mimic, the ALP activity, and calcium deposition were decreased than the control group, while miR-889 inhibitor shown the opposite trend. And miR-889 could bind the 3′UTR of WNT7A. We further used WNT7A siRNA to explore the function of miR-889, and the results revealed that co-cultured with miR-889 inhibitor and WNT7A siRNA was associated with a reduction of ALP activity and calcium deposition and osteoblastic-related proteins than miR-889 inhibitor alone.

Our results revealed that miR-889 plays a negative role in inducing osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs through Wnt β-catenin signaling pathway.