MiRNA-27a-3p promotes osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells through targeting ATF3
Authors: Y-C Fu
X-X Wang
B-H Zhu
S-S Guo
S-R Zhao
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: miRNA-27a-3p; osteogenic differentiation; hMSCs; ATF3; osteoporosis symptoms
Affiliations: Department of Orthopedics, Gong'an County People's Hospital, Jingzhou, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: To elucidate whether miRNA-27a-3p can promote osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs by targeting ATF3, thus alleviating osteoporosis symptoms. Patients and methods: The serum levels of miRNA-27a-3p in osteoporosis patients (n=20) and normal controls (n=20) were detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were subjected to osteogenic differentiation for 1, 3 and 7 days. Subsequently, mRNA levels of miRNA-27a-3p, ALP, and Bglap in hMSCs were determined by qRT-PCR. The regulatory effects of miRNA-27a-3p levels and the mRNA levels of ALP, Bglap, and Runx2 were detected. After the overexpression or knockdown of miRNA-27a-3p, we evaluated the changes in the osteogenic differentiation by alizarin red staining and ALP staining. Through Dual-Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay, we verified the binding relationship between miRNA-27a-3p and ATF3. Rescue experiments were finally conducted to prove whether miRNA-27a-3p regulated the osteogenic differentiation by targeting ATF3. Results: The serum level of miRNA-27a-3p remained lower in osteoporosis patients relative to controls. With the prolongation of osteogenic differentiation, the mRNA levels of miRNA-27a-3p, ALP, and Bglap gradually increased. The overexpression of miRNA-27a-3p upregulated mRNA and the protein levels of osteogenesis-related genes, increased ALP activity, and enhanced mineralization capacity. The knockdown of miRNA-27a-3p obtained the opposite trends. MiRNA-27a-3p could target ATF3, and the overexpression of ATF3 reversed the promotive effects of miRNA-27a-3p on osteogenic differentiation. Conclusions: MiRNA-27a-3p promotes the differentiation of hMSCs into osteoblasts by targeting ATF3, thus alleviating osteoporosis symptoms. 

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. ![file] ,