Overexpression of microRNA-141 inhibits osteoporosis in the jawbones of ovariectomized rats by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Downregulation of miR‑146a inhibits osteoporosis in the jaws of ovariectomized rats by regulating the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway

“…In the present study, the downregulation of miR-146a promoted osteogenic differentiation and inhibited ddK1 expression. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in OP (16,18). β-catenin accumulates in the nucleus and binds to enhancer-binding transcription factor-1 in order to promote the expression of Runx2, which is one of the Wnt target genes and elicits a series of reactions, such as the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts (27,28).…”

“…The induction of the receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa B ligand contributes to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway-mediated regulation of osteoclastogenesis in bone tissues. In the jawbones of OVX rats, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was activated by miR-141 (18). However, the interaction of miR-146a with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the jawbones of OVX rats remains unclear.…”

“…In the sham group, part of the adipose tissue near the ovaries was removed in the rats and saline was injected into the tail vein once a week, whereas in the OP group, both ovaries were removed in the rats and saline was injected into the tail vein once a week. In the miR-146a-A group, part of the adipose tissue near the ovaries was removed and miR-146a antagonist (Guangzhou RiboBio co., Ltd.) was injected at a dose of 10 mg/kg into the tail vein once a week (18), whereas in the miR-146a-Nc group, part of the adipose tissue near the ovaries was removed and the negative control (Guangzhou RiboBio co., Ltd.) was injected into the tail vein once a week (10 mg/kg). The treatment administration was carried out each week for 12 weeks.…”

“…To further examine the effects of miR-146a on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, another 30 rats were divided into 5 groups (n=6) as follows: i) The sham group, ii) OP group, iii) miR-146a-A group, iv) Wnt activator group (dKK2-c2) and v) miR-146a antagonist + Wnt inhibitor (endostatin) group (miR + E). The dKK2-c2 group was established by an injection of recombinant dKK2 protein (20 µg/kg dKK2-c2; Prospec-Tany TechnoGene, Ltd.) into the tail vein once a week (18). The miR + E group was treated with the miR-146-A, the Wnt inhibitor and recombinant human endostatin (Endostar, Shandong Xiansheng Mai dejin Biopharmaceutical; 1.5 mg/kg) that were injected into the tail vein once a week (18).…”

“…The dKK2-c2 group was established by an injection of recombinant dKK2 protein (20 µg/kg dKK2-c2; Prospec-Tany TechnoGene, Ltd.) into the tail vein once a week (18). The miR + E group was treated with the miR-146-A, the Wnt inhibitor and recombinant human endostatin (Endostar, Shandong Xiansheng Mai dejin Biopharmaceutical; 1.5 mg/kg) that were injected into the tail vein once a week (18).…”