Regen Ther. 2021 Dec;18 430-440
Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that play a pivotal role in bone diseases. RUNX3 was an essential transcriptional regulator during osteogenesis. However, it is unknown whether RUNX3 regulates hsa_circ_0005752 during osteogenic differentiation.
Methods: The levels of hsa_circ_0005752 and RUNX3 were measured by qRT-PCR after osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs. The osteogenic differentiation was analyzed by Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and Alizarin red staining (ARS). qRT-PCR and western blot were used to assess the expressions of osteogenic differentiation-related molecules. RNA pull-down, RIP, and luciferase reporter assays determine the interactions between miR-496 and hsa_circ_0005752 or MDM2 mRNA. CHIP-PCR analyzed the interaction between RUNX3 and LPAR1. Finally, the potential roles of RUNX3 were investigated during osteogenic differentiation with or without hsa_circ_0005752 knockdown.
Results: Hsa_circ_0005752 and RUNX3 were significantly increased, and miR-496 was remarkably decreased in ADSCs after osteogenic differentiation. Hsa_circ_0005752 could promote osteogenic differentiation, as shown by enhancing ALP and ARS staining intensity. Hsa_circ_0005752 enhanced the expressions of Runx2, ALP, Osx, and OCN. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0005752 directly targeted miR-496, which can directly bind to MDM2. RUNX3 bound to the LPAR1 promoter and enhanced hsa_circ_0005752 expressions. Moreover, the enhanced expression of hsa_circ_0005752 by RUNX3 could promote osteogenic differentiation, whereas knockdown of hsa_circ_0005752 partially antagonized the effects of RUNX3.
Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that RUNX3 promoted osteogenic differentiation via regulating the hsa_circ_0005752/miR-496/MDM2 axis and thus provided a new therapeutic strategy for osteoporosis.
Keywords: 3′ UTR, 3′ untranslated region; ADSCs, adipose-derived stem cells; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ARS, Alizarin Red Staining; Adipose-derived stem cells; BCA, bicinchoninic acid; BM-MSCs, Bone Marrow-Mesenchymal Stem Cells; BMP2, Bone morphogenetic protein 2; ChIP, chromatin immunoprecipitation; Circular RNAs; ECL, enhanced chemiluminescence; H&E staining, Hematoxylin and Eosin staining; LPAR1, lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1; MDM2; MDM2, murine double minute 2; OCN, osteocalcin; OM, osteogenic (differentiation) medium; Osteogenic differentiation; Osx, osterix; PMSF, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride; RIP, RNA immunoprecipitation; RUNX3; Runx2, Runt-related transcription factor 2; Runx3, RUNX Family Transcription Factor 3; SDS-PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; UC-MSCs, Umbilical Cord-Mesenchymal Stem Cells; circRNAs, Circular RNAs; miRNAs, microRNA; microRNA; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction