The Regulatory Roles of MicroRNAs in Bone Remodeling and Perspectives as Biomarkers in Osteoporosis

Abstract

MicroRNAs are involved in many cellular and molecular activities and played important roles in many biological and pathological processes, such as tissue formation, cancer development, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, it has been reported that microRNAs can modulate the differentiation and activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, the key cells that are involved in bone remodeling process. Meanwhile, the results from our and other research groups showed that the expression profiles of microRNAs in the serum and bone tissues are significantly different in postmenopausal women with or without fractures compared to the control. Therefore, it can be postulated that microRNAs might play important roles in bone remodeling and that they are very likely to be involved in the pathological process of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In this review, we will present the updated research on the regulatory roles of microRNAs in osteoblasts and osteoclasts and the expression profiles of microRNAs in osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture patients. The perspective of serum microRNAs as novel biomarkers in bone loss disorders such as osteoporosis has also been discussed.

Evidence for Altered Canonical Wnt Signaling in the Trabecular Bone of Elderly Postmenopausal Women with Fragility Femoral Fracture

“…In addition, the higher levels of miR-130a in sera samples from F group versus the OA group could contribute to the downregulation of PPAR γ 1 in bone samples of F patients, in order to also promote osteogenesis. The clinical reports associating miRNA with bone pathologies are still limited and reviewed by Sun et al [38]. The authors postulated that miRNA may play important role in bone remodeling and might be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.…”

Delivery of antagomiR204-conjugated gold nanoparticles from PLGA sheets and its implication in promoting osseointegration of titanium implant in type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…26 Previously, multiple miRNAs are found to be closely related to bone development and metabolism 27 and play an important role in promoting new bone regeneration, 28 such as miR218, miR27, miR204, and miR223. 20,[29][30][31] These miRNAs serve as regulators of mineral deposition through acting as drivers or inhibitors of bone-related signaling pathways. Specifically, miR204 has been revealed to negatively regulate the essential osteogenic transcription factor Runx2.…”

MicroRNAs and Connexins in Bone: Interaction and Mechanisms of Delivery

“…In particular, miRs have been shown to play an important role in the process of skeletal development and bone remodeling under physiological conditions and in metabolic bone diseases, including osteoporosis [27–29]. The role of miRs in skeletal development was first demonstrated by in vivo studies in which Dicer was deleted in bone cells, which resulted in an overall reduction in miR expression.…”