ECM1-associated miR-1260b promotes osteogenic differentiation by targeting GDI1.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a common disease among older adults. The promotion of osteoblast differentiation plays a crucial role in alleviating OP symptoms. Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) has been reported to be closely associated with osteogenic differentiation. In this study, we constructed U2OS cell lines with ECM1 knockdown and ECM1a overexpression based on knockdown, and identified the target miRNA (miR-1260b) by sequencing. Overexpression of miR-1260b promoted the osteogenic differentiation of U2OS and MG63 cells, as demonstrated by increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, matrix mineralization, and Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2), Osteopontin (OPN), Collagen I (COL1A1), and Osteocalcin (OCN) protein expressions, whereas low expression of miR-1260b had the opposite effect. In addition, miR-1260b expression was decreased in OP patients than in non-OP patients. Next, we predicted the target gene of miRNA through TargetScan and miRDB and found that miR-1260b negatively regulated GDP dissociation inhibitor 1 (GDI1) by directly binding to its 3'-untranslated region. Subsequent experiments revealed that GDI1 overexpression decreased ALP activity and calcium deposit, reduced RUNX2, OPN, COL1A1, and OCN expression levels, and reversed the effects of miR-1260b on osteogenic differentiation. In conclusion, ECM1-related miR-1260b promotes osteogenic differentiation by targeting GDI1 in U2OS and MG63 cells. Thus, this study has significant implication for osteoporosis treatment.

Association of lactase 13910 C/T polymorphism with bone mineral density and fracture risk: a meta-analysis.

A number of studies have investigated the association of lactase (LCT,C/T-13910) gene polymorphismwith bonemineral density (BMD) and fracture risk, but previous results were inconclusive. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to quantify the association of LCT (C/T-13910) polymorphism with BMD and fracture risk. Eligible publications were searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase databases, Google Scholar, Yahoo and Baidu. Pooled weighed mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a fixed-effects or random-effects model. A total of nine articles with 8871 subjects were investigated in the presentmeta-analysis. Overall, the TT/TC genotypes of LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism showed significantly higher BMD than those with the CC genotype at femur neck (FN) (WMD = 0.011 g/cm2, 95% CI = 0.004-0.018, P = 0.003). Besides, LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism may decrease the risk of any site fractures (for TT versus TC+CC, OR = 0.813, 95% CI = 0.704-0.938, P = 0.005; for T allele versus C allele, OR = 0.885, 95% CI = 0.792-0.989, P = 0.032). However, there was no significant association of LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism with BMD at lumbar spine and risk of vertebral fractures under all genetic contrast models (all P values were >0.05). The meta-analysis suggests that there are significant effects of LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism on BMD and fracture risk. Large-scale studies with different ethnic populations will be needed to further investigate the possible race-specific effect of LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism on BMD and fracture risk.

Stanniocalcin 2 improved osteoblast differentiation via phosphorylation of ERK.

Mammalian stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) is a glycoprotein hormone with multiple functions. The present study determined the importance of STC2 in osteoblast differentiation. It was revealed that the expression of STC2 was increased during the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells to osteoblasts and that knockdown of STC2 reduced osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, whereas STC2 overexpression increased differentiation and mineralization. Knockdown of STC2 downregulated the expression of osteoblast-associated genes, including runt­related transcription factor 2, collagen type I α 1 chain, osterix and osteocalcin. Overexpression of STC2 upregulated the expression of these osteoblastic genes. In addition, overexpression of STC2 enhanced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal­regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), whereas inhibition of ERK phosphorylation reduced osteoblast differentiation of MC3T3­E1 cells overexpressing STC2. These findings indicated that STC2 may promote osteoblast differentiation and mineralization by regulating ERK activation.

Rap1A Regulates Osteoblastic Differentiation via the ERK and p38 Mediated Signaling.

Rap1A is a member of small G proteins belonging to the Ras family. Recently, an integration of human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and gene expression profiling study revealed that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within human Rap1A were strongly associated with narrow neck width in women. However, the regulatory role of Rap1A in osteoblasts remains to be elucidated. Here we report that Rap1A is a key regulator in osteoblast differentiation. Rap1A expression and activity were gradually enhanced during the induced differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells (C2C12) and preosteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1). Knockdown of endogenous Rap1A significantly inhibited the osteogenic marker gene expression and matrix mineralization in cells with osteogenesis. In addition, knockdown of endogenous Rap1A suppressed the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), while overexpression of Rap1A accelerated osteoblast differentiation and enhanced the phosphorylation of ERK and p38. Taken together, our study suggests that Rap1A regulates osteoblast differentiation through modulating the ERK/p38 signaling.

Mutations of p53 and KRAS activate NF-κB to promote chemoresistance and tumorigenesis via dysregulation of cell cycle and suppression of apoptosis in lung cancer cells.

Although mutations of p53 and KRAS and activation of NF-κB signaling have been highly associated with chemoresistance and tumorigenesis of lung cancer, the interactive mechanisms between two of p53, KRAS, and NF-κB are elusive. In the present study, we first observed that blocking of NF-κB function in KRAS mutant A549 cell line with an IκBα mutant (IκBαM) inhibited cell cycle progression, anti-apoptosis, chemoresistance, and tumorigenesis. Silencing of p53 or KRAS in A549 or H358 cells either enhanced or attenuated the resistance of cells to cisplatin and taxol through promotion or suppression of the NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Introduction of a wild type p53 into p53 null lung cancer cell lines H1299 and H358 inhibited NF-κB activity, leading to the enhanced response to chemotherapeutic drugs. Delivery of a mutant p53 or KRAS-V12 into A549/IκBαM or H1299/p53Wt cells increased cell cycle progression, anti-apoptosis, chemoresistance, and tumorigenesis due to the accumulated nuclear localization of NF-κB p65, while treatment of H1299/p53Wt/KRAS-V12 with NF-κB inhibitor PS1145 diminished these effects. Thus, we conclude that p53 deficiency and KRAS mutation activate the NF-κB signaling to control chemoresistance and tumorigenesis, and that the status of p53 and KRAS may be considered for the targeted therapy against NF-κB in lung cancer patients.