MicroRNA-449b-5p promotes the progression of osteoporosis by inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via targeting Satb2
Authors: C-Y Zheng
J-Y Li
Q Sun
C-X Bai
Z Zhang
Y-S Jia
X-Q Zhao
L-G Zhu
X Wei
J Du
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: microRNA-449b-5p; osteogenic differentiation; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs); RUNX2; OCN
Affiliations: Department of Orthopaedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: We aimed to explore the role of microRNA-449b-5p in osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and its mechanism of action. Materials and methods: Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was used to detect the expression levels of microRNA-449b-5p and osteogenic markers including RUNX2, OCN during BMSCs differentiation. The microRNA-449b-5p mimic and microRNA-449b-5p inhibitors were transfected into BMSCs to achieve microRNA-449b-5p overexpression and knockdown, then the expressions of osteogenic markers were detected by qRT-PCR. The ALP activity staining and the alizarin red staining were used to detect the activity of ALP and the mineralization ability of cells after overexpression and knockdown of microRNA-449b-5p. Binding sites for microRNA-449b-5p and Satb2 were predicted by TargetScan, the PicTar and microRNAanda programs, and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The relationship between microRNA-449b-5p and Satb2 was analyzed by QRT-PCR and Western blot. The microRNA-449b-5p inhibitor and shSATB2 lentivirus were simultaneously transfected in BMSCs, and the expression levels of RUNX2, OCN and ALP were detected by qRT-PCR and ALP activity assays. Results: microRNA-449b-5p expression gradually decreased during osteogenic differentiation. Overexpression of microRNA-449b-5p inhibited BMSCs differentiation by down-regulating ALP activity, RUNX2, and OCN expression, while the opposite result was observed after knockdown of microRNA-449b-5p. MicroRNA-449b-5p can bind to the 3'UTR end of Satb2, which was involved in the osteogenic differentiation of microRNA-449b-5p-regulated BMSCs, and silencing of Satb2 can abolish the positive effect of the microRNA-449b-5p inhibitor on osteoblasts differentiation. Conclusions: microRNA-449b-5p could aggravate osteoporosis by inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs through targeting Satb2. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper appears to belong to a set of (as of today) seven papers that all show very similar, and sometimes overlapping, panels with Alizarin Red-stained cells. These papers were published by different authors at different hospitals, suggesting the photos all might have originated from the same source. The papers are: * AG Gao et al., , The First Affiliated Hospital Of Soochow University, Suzhou, DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201807_15527- https: pubpeer.com publications 65A5976CDD42166D927AF2D3BA0B56 * B Luo et al., The Affiliated Hospital (Traditional Chinese Medicine) of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201908_18717 - https: pubpeer.com publications 20DFC925FC185C52D8BA99B153F510 * Changgong Lan et al., The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, DOI: 10.3892 etm.2019.8246 - https: pubpeer.com publications 1D79EA9F787AF36661079482544D12 * FB Weng et al., The Ninth Peopleu2019s Hospital of Suzhou, Suzhou, DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201912_19759 - https: pubpeer.com publications D63F002727B3A990A4571F7D4B6F56 * GC Gao et al., The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_202001_20029 - https: pubpeer.com publications F04C25EBF6963C260938DF3B6BB999 * JY Li et al., Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201908_18519 - https: pubpeer.com publications 6171C86828BF72676BB2B178610093 * YC Fu et al., Health Management Center, Weifang Peopleu2019s Hospital, Weifang, DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201908_18632 - https: pubpeer.com publications FF66C46D23036BC26668481C279E4B Here is a collage of the images from these papers. Boxes of the same color highlight panels or parts of panels that look similar.  ,