miR-29cb2 promotes angiogenesis and osteogenesis by inhibiting HIF-3α in bone

Abstract

Coordination between osteogenesis and angiogenesis is required for bone homeostasis. Here, we show that miR-29cb2 is a bone-specific miRNA and plays critical roles on angiogenesis-osteogenesis coupling during bone remodeling. Mice with deletion of miR-29cb2 exhibit osteopenic phenotypes and osteoblast impairment, accompanied by pronounced decreases in specific H vessels. The decrease in bone miR-29cb2 was associated with pathological ovariectomy stimuli. Mechanistically, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-3a, as a target for miR-29cb2, inhibits HIF-1a activity by competitively bonding with HIF-1b. Notably, miR-29cb2 in peripheral blood (PB) nearly is undetectable in sham and significantly increases in ovariectomy mice. Further evaluation from osteoporosis patients demonstrates similar signatures. ROC analysis shows miR-29cb2 in PB has higher sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing osteoporosis when compared with four clinical biomarkers. Collectively, these findings reveal that miR-29cb2 is essential for bone remodeling by inhibiting HIF-3a and elevated bone-specific miR-29cb2 in PB, which may be a promising biomarker for bone loss

Targeting type H vessels in bone‐related diseases

“…MiR‐136‐3p targets PTEN and modulates type H vessel formation, and its expression is significantly decreased in alcohol‐induced osteopenia 34 . MiR‐29cb2, a bone‐specific miRNA that is elevated in the peripheral blood of osteoporosis patients, plays an important role in angiogenesis‐osteogenesis coupling by regulating HIF‐1α activity and type H vessel formation via its target HIF‐3α 35 . These molecules and related signalling pathways are potential targets for the treatment of osteoporosis.…”