Overexpression of CAV3 facilitates bone formation via the Wnt signaling pathway in osteoporotic rats
Authors: Qiao-Ping Lu
Yong-Rong Qiu
Yan Liu
Feng-Fei Lin
Run-Bao Yang
Bo Xiao
Bin Chen
Ke Zheng
Ming-Hua Zhang
Jun Yang
Journal: Endocrine (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Bone formation; CAV3; Gene silencing; Osteoporosis; Wnt signaling pathway.
Affiliations: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Longyan First Hospital, Longyan, 364000, P. R. China., Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, 350007, P. R. China., Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Longyan First Hospital, Longyan, 364000, P. R. China. .

Abstract:  Purpose: Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by decreased bone density and bone strength, commonly observed among older individuals. Caveolin-3 (CAV3) is a principal structural protein of the caveolae membrane domains, which has been reported to participate in cell signaling as well as the maintenance of cell structure. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects involved with the silencing of CAV3 on bone formation among osteoporotic rat models via the Wnt signaling pathway. Methods: Osteoporosis was initially induced by means of ovariotomy among rat models in order to determine the expression of CAV3. Then, to confirm the specific function and mechanism of CAV3 from an osteoporosis perspective, the CAV3 expression vector was constructed and transfected into the osteoblasts of the osteoporotic rats. Afterward, the mRNA and protein expressions of CAV3, β-catenin, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5), T-cell factor (TCF), and Wnt3a in addition to cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected accordingly. Results: Positive expression of CAV3 exhibited diminished levels in the bone tissues of osteoporotic rats. The osteoblasts of the osteoporotic rats treated with overexpressed CAV3 displayed elevated mRNA and protein expression levels of β-catenin, LRP5, TCF, and Wnt3a. Increased cell proliferation and decreased cell apoptosis were also observed, while the osteoblasts of the osteoporotic rats treated with si-CAV3 exhibited an opposite result. Conclusion: Overexpressed CAV3 promotes bone formation and suppresses the osteoporosis progression via the activation of the Wnt signaling in rat models, suggesting CAV3 as a potential target biomarker in the treatment of osteoporosis. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 10a,  cell apoptosis profile in six groups . ![file] Could the authors comment on the similarities between these flow-cytometry plots and those of Fig 9C in [Cai et al (2018)] ? ![] And Fig 4D from [Wu et al (2018)] ? ![] , 
  **Ethical approval** All animal operations in this study were performed was in line with the local principles of management and use of experimental animals. This is hopelessly generic - as if written before knowing who or where the final authors would be.  We followed some ethical standards, somewhere . , 
 #1 A [Correction on 18 September 2020] revised the panels of Fig 10a to reduce the similarity to the previous publications: ![file] The authors did not explain how they came to include stock images (popular with a papermill) in the first place. , 
 Retracted [11 March 2022] . ------------------------------ The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article. After publication, concerns were raised regarding similarities between flow cytometry plots in Fig. 10a and those in previous articles from different authors [1] and [2]. The authors issued a Correction, but a high degree of similarity remained in the plots. Additionally, insufficient ethics approval information has been provided in the article, and the authors did not respond to the request for evidence of ethics approval. The Editor-in-Chief therefore no longer has confidence in the presented data and the integrity of the study. None of the authors have responded to any correspondence from the editor or publisher about this retraction. ,