MicroRNA-124-3p inhibits the differentiation of precartilaginous stem cells into nucleus pulposus-like cells via targeting FSTL1

• Published in: Experimental and therapeutic medicine 2021-07, Vol.22 (1), p.725-725, Article 725
• Main Authors: Wang, Qiong, Wang, Junfang, Gu, Xiaofeng, Feng, Dehong, Li, Ding, Jiang, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cartilage; Cartilage cells; Extracellular matrix; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Growth; Health aspects; Laboratory animals; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs; Morphology; Stem cells; Tissue engineering
• ISSN: 1792-0981; 1792-1015
• DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10157

MicroRNA (miRNA/miR)-124-3p has been extensively studied in tumor biology and stem cells. However, little is known regarding its functional roles in the differentiation of precartilaginous stem cells (PSCs) into nucleus pulposus-like cells (NPLCs). In the present study, using miRNA microarray screening, it was demonstrated that the miRNA expression profiles differed between rat primary PSCs and TGF-β1-induced differentiated NPLCs, and that miR-124-3p was significantly differentially expressed during the differentiation of PSCs to NPLCs. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analysis verified that miR-124-3p expression was decreased during PSC differentiation, with the lowest levels being detected at the later stages. Subsequent experiments revealed that miR-124-3p overexpression significantly decreased the expression of the extracellular matrix proteins, aggrecan and collagen type II, which was accompanied by a significant decrease in follistatin-related protein 1 (FSTL1) expression levels. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis indicated that FSTL1 was a potential target of miR-124-3p, which was additionally verified using luciferase reporter assays. Taken together, these data revealed a specific regulatory pathway of miR-124-3p, which negatively regulated its target gene, FSTL1, during the differentiation of PSCs to NPLCs, and suggested a functional role for miR-124-3p in the differentiation of PSCs.