MicroRNA-141 is regulated by serum of velvet antler to promote the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in dexamethasone-induced cell model / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can delay the procession of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis. Besides, microRNA-141 (miR-141) is one of the important regulatory factors to promote cell proliferation. In addition, velvet antler is a traditional Chinese medicine which has significant roles in repairing bone and tissue and improving health. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether velvet antler serum can regulate the expression of miR-141 to promote the proliferation of BMSCs, and further delay or reverse the progression of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis. METHODS: BMSCs were isolated and cultured from Sprague-Dawley rats. The passage 3 BMSCs were transfected with miR-141 mimic or miR-141 inhibitors, and then real-time PCR and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay were performed for detecting miR-141 expression and cell proliferation, respectively. The passage 3 BMSCs were divided into three groups control group (α-MEM), dexamethasone group (α-MEM+1 μmol/L dexamethasone), and velvet antler serum group (α-MEM+1 μmol/L dexamethasone+15% velvet antler serum). Expression of miR-141 mRNA was detected by real-time PCR at 24 hours after intervention. The proliferation ability of BMSCs was evaluated by MTT assay at 24, 48, and 72 hours after intervention. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After transfection with miR-141 mimic, the expression of miR-141 mRNA was upregulated, while the cell proliferation was reduced. After transfection with miR-141 inhibitor, the expression of miR-141 mRNA was downregulated, while the cell proliferation was increased. The expression of miR-141 mRNA was significantly higher in the dexamethasone group than the control group (P < 0.01), while the treatment with velvet antler serum could significantly downregulate the expression of miR-141 mRNA (P < 0.01). The absorbance of BMSCs in the dexamethasone group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01), and the absorbance value in the velvet antler serum group was significantly higher than that in the dexamethasone group (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the serum containing velvet antler can downregulate the expression of miR-141 which is upregulated by dexamethasone and then do help to promote the proliferation of BMSCs.