MicroRNAs Modulate Signaling Pathways in Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2021-02, Vol.22 (5), p.2362
• Main Authors: Mazziotta, Chiara, Lanzillotti, Carmen, Iaquinta, Maria Rosa, Taraballi, Francesca, Torreggiani, Elena, Rotondo, John Charles, Otòn-Gonzalez, Lucia, Mazzoni, Elisa, Frontini, Francesca, Bononi, Ilaria, De Mattei, Monica, Tognon, Mauro, Martini, Fernanda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Biomedical materials; Bone and Bones; Bone growth; Bone morphogenetic proteins; Bones; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell differentiation; Cell proliferation; Cytokines; Differentiation (biology); DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Extracellular matrix; Gene expression; Growth factors; Humans; Kinases; Ligands; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - physiology; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - metabolism; Mineralization; miRNA; Non-coding RNA; Nucleotides; Organs; Osteoblastogenesis; Osteoblasts; Osteogenesis; Proteins; Regeneration; Regeneration (physiology); Review; Signal Transduction; Stem cells; Tissue engineering; Transcription factors; Transforming growth factor-b; Wnt protein; β-Catenin
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052362

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been identified in many adult tissues and they have been closely studied in recent years, especially in view of their potential use for treating diseases and damaged tissues and organs. MSCs are capable of self-replication and differentiation into osteoblasts and are considered an important source of cells in tissue engineering for bone regeneration. Several epigenetic factors are believed to play a role in the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, including microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNAs of approximately 22 nucleotides that are able to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis by binding the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of target mRNAs, which can be subsequently degraded or translationally silenced. MiRNAs control gene expression in osteogenic differentiation by regulating two crucial signaling cascades in osteogenesis: the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)/bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and the Wingless/Int-1(Wnt)/β-catenin signaling pathways. This review provides an overview of the miRNAs involved in osteogenic differentiation and how these miRNAs could regulate the expression of target genes.