The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs in Bone Diseases and Their Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small (20–24 nucleotides), highly conserved, non-coding RNA molecules whose main function is the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression through sequence-specific manners, such as mRNA degradation or translational repression. Since these key regulatory molecules are implicated in several biological processes, their altered expression affects the preservation of cellular homeostasis and leads to the development of a wide range of pathologies. Over the last few years, relevant investigations have elucidated that miRNAs participate in different stages of bone growth and development. Moreover, the abnormal expression of these RNA molecules in bone cells and tissues has been significantly associated with the progression of numerous bone diseases, including osteoporosis, osteosarcoma, osteonecrosis and bone metastasis, among others. In fact, miRNAs regulate multiple pathological mechanisms, including altering either osteogenic or osteoblast differentiation, metastasis, osteosarcoma cell proliferation, and bone loss. Therefore, in this present review, aiming to impulse the research arena of the biological implications of miRNA transcriptome in bone diseases and to explore their potentiality as a theragnostic target, we summarize the recent findings associated with the clinical significance of miRNAs in these ailments.

Hsa_circ_0099630 knockdown induces the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation and attenuates the apoptosis of porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide–induced human periodontal ligament fibroblasts

“…A recent study has shown that endogenous circRNAs act as miRNA sponges to attenuate the function of miRNAs ( 53 ). A study has also confirmed that the decrease in osteogenic potential in chronic inflammatory environments is associated with miRNA dysregulation ( 54 ). In the current study, vast miRNAs, especially miR-182, miR-1200, miR-338, miR-576, miR-623, were identified as possibly interacting with hsa_circ_0099630 based on a bioinformatics analysis.…”

Osteomalacia Is Not a Single Disease

“…More specific biomarkers of the diseases (microRNAs, extracellular vesicles) could be studied in order to find specific patterns in osteomalacia [ 74 ].…”

Muscle and Bone Defects in Metastatic Disease

“…Among the biomolecules transported by EVs, noncoding RNAs including lncRNAs and miRNAs exhibit various roles in metastatic bone disease [151,152]. Recent studies demonstrated that several miRNAs are involved in the regulation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts during bone metastasis progression in breast, prostate and colorectal cancer [153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160][161].…”