MicroRNAs are potential prognostic and therapeutic targets in diabetic osteoarthritis

miR-34 negatively regulates the expression of Dmrt and related genes in the testis of mud crab Scylla paramamosain

The mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) is a commercially significant marine decapod crustacean. Due to its obvious sexual dimorphism, the mechanism of sex differentiation and gonadal development has attracted significant research interest. The Dmrt (double-sex and mab-3 related transcription factor) genes are vital in animal gonadal development and sex differentiation. In the present study, miR-34 was predicted to target the 3' end of Dmrt-1, idmrt-2, Dmrt-3, Dsx and Dmrt-like genes by prediction software, and the interactions between miR-34 and these Dmrt genes were validated by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Dual luciferase assay results indicated that miR-34 mimics/inhibitors co-transfected with plasmid vectors with 3' end of Dmrt-1, idmrt-2, Dmrt-3, Dsx and Dmrt-like, respectively, led to a significant decrease/increase of fluorescence activity in HEK293T cells. In vivo experiments showed that injection of agomir-34 significantly inhibited Dmrt-1, idmrt-2, Dsx and Dmrt-like expression, while injection of antagomir-34 caused the opposite result. However, Dmrt-3 expression was not affected by injection of miR-34 reagents. Meanwhile, the expression of spermatogenesis and testicular development-related molecular marker genes (IAG, foxl2 and vasa) in mud crabs was significantly changed after injecting the miR-34 reagent in vivo. Furthermore, the result of immunoblotting proved that the expression level of Dmrt-like protein can be regulated by miR-34. These results imply that miR-34 is indirectly involved in sex differentiation and testicular development of S. paramamosain by regulating Dmrt-1, idmrt-2, Dsx and Dmrt-like genes.

MicroRNA-25-5p negatively regulates TXNIP expression and relieves inflammatory responses of brain induced by lipopolysaccharide

Sepsis is one of the most common causes of death in patients suffering from severe infection or injury. Currently, a specific effective therapy remains to be established. In the present study, miR-25-5p, miR-105, miR-106b-5p, miR-154-3p, miR-20b-5p, miR-295-3p, miR-291-3p, miR-301b, miR-352, and miR-93-5p were predicted to target TXNIP mRNA from the databases of miRDB, Targetscan, and microT-CDS. The luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-25-5p negatively regulates TXNIP expression. The ELISA analyses and western blotting demonstrated that miR-25-5p downregulated the production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells or rats, as well as the protein levels of TXNIP, NLRP3, and cleaved caspase-1. In addition, miR-25-5p increased the cell viability and decreased the apoptosis in LPS-stimulated CTX TNA2 cells and reduced the abnormal morphology of the brain in LPS-stimulated rats. Besides, miR-25-5p decreased the relative mean fluorescence intensity of DCF in LPS-stimulated CTX TNA2 cell, apoptosis, and protein levels of MnSOD and catalase in LPS-stimulated brains. These findings indicate that miR-25-5p downregulated LPS-induced inflammatory responses, reactive oxygen species production, and brain damage, suggesting that miR-25-5p is a candidate treatment for septic encephalopathy.

The association between diabetes mellitus and functionality in knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the roles of diabetes mellitus (DM) on quality of life, function of knee, and muscle strength in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Material and Method: This single-center, case-control study prospectively enrolled outpatients with knee OA visiting a physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic. The patients were grouped according to the presence of DM diagnosis. Demographic data, disease duration, and medical treatments of patients were recorded. Clinical parameters, radiographic grading (Kellgren-Lawrence grades), functional scales of the knee and quality of life were evaluated. Results: The study included 82 participants [age: 61.3±6.7 years; female: 76.8%]. The mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index of OA patients with (n=37) and without DM (n=45) were 45.79±18.04 vs. 65.94±16.23, respectively (p=0.003). The Hb A1c levels showed a negative correlation with Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score components (pain, quality of life, sports, daily activities, symptom duration) (p

Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing revealed the roles of chitin-related genes in the eyestalk abnormality of a novel mud crab hybrid (Scylla serrata ♀ × S. paramamosain ♂)

Chitin is a kind of insoluble structural polysaccharide and plays different roles in different species. In crustaceans, it forms the structural components in the exoskeleton. In our previous studies, novel mud crab hybrids have been produced from the interspecific hybridization of Scylla serrata ♀ × S. paramamosain ♂. Some of the hybrid crabs have been found to be morphologically (eyestalk) abnormal, but the genetic mechanism remains unknown. To address this question, we performed whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing on the control group (normal hybrids), abnormal hybrids, and S. paramamosain to uncover the genetic basis underlying this morphological abnormality. A total of 695 mRNAs, 10 miRNAs, 44 circRNAs, and 1957 lncRNAs were differentially expressed between normal and abnormal hybrids. Several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with chitin and cuticle metabolism were identified, including chitin synthase, chitinase, chitin deacetylase, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, β-1,4-endoglucanase, N-alpha-acetyltransferase, cuticle proprotein, early cuticle protein, and arthrodial cuticle protein. Functional analysis showed that DE miRNAs, DE circRNAs, DE lncRNAs, and lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network were enriched in pathways related to the amino acid, carbohydrate, and glycogen metabolism. Considering the importance of the chitin and cuticle in exoskeleton formation, it can be concluded that the changes in the chitin and cuticle biosynthesis might have caused the eyestalk abnormality in hybrid crabs. These findings can lay the solid foundation for a better understanding of the important roles of chitin and cuticle related genes and the development of hybridization techniques in crustaceans.

Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Exhibit a More Mineralized Deep Cartilage Layer Compared with Nondiabetic Controls: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess differences in biochemical composition of the deep cartilage layer in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nondiabetic controls using UTE (ultra-short echo time) T2* mapping and to investigate the association of vascular health and UTE T2* measurements.

DESIGN

Ten subjects with T2DM matched for age, sex, and body mass index with 10 nondiabetic controls. A 3D UTE sequence with 6 echo times was acquired using 3T magnetic resonance imaging of the knee. For UTE T2* analysis, the deep cartilage layer was segmented and analyzed in 5 compartments (patella, medial, and lateral femur and tibia). The ankle brachial index (ABI) was obtained in all subjects. Linear regression analyses were used to assess associations of T2DM and UTE T2* relaxation times and the associations of ABI measurements and UTE measurements.

RESULTS

Compared with nondiabetic controls, T2DM subjects had significantly lower mean T2*-UTE in the patella (mean difference 4.87 ms; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-8.65; P = 0.015), the lateral tibia (mean difference 2.26 ms; 95% CI 0.06-4.45; P = 0.045), and the lateral femur (mean difference 4.96 ms; 95% CI 0.19-9.73; P = 0.043). Independent of diabetic status, subjects with higher ABI values, indicating better vascular health, had higher T2*-UTE of the patella (coefficient 15.2; 95% CI 3.3-21.4; P = 0.017), the medial tibia (coefficient 9.8; 95% CI 1.0-18.6; P = 0.031), and the lateral femur (coefficient 18.8; 95% CI 3.3-34.3; P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

T2*-UTE measurements of the deep cartilage layer were consistently lower in subjects with T2DM and in subjects with impaired vascular health, likely indicating increased mineralization of this layer.

Effect of type II diabetes-induced osteoarthritis on articular cartilage aging in rats: A study in vivo and in vitro

OBJECTIVES

Some evidence suggests that type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoarthritis (OA) usually occur together clinically, and the symptoms are more obvious compared with non-diabetic patients with OA. We aimed to explore the effects in cartilage degradation, damage, and aging after T2DM combined with OA.

METHODS

Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the young-control group (YCG, n = 10), old-control group (OCG, n = 10), and old T2DM-induced OA group (OTOG, n = 10) after the pre-experiment. T2DM model was established using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin. In vivo, all rats were evaluated by behavior, histology, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In vitro, chondrocytes of 17-day-old SD rats were cultured to obtain the passage 1 (P1) and passage 5 (P5) chondrocytes. The effects of different concentrations glucose on chondrocyte senescence were evaluated by chondrocyte staining, immunofluorescence, western blotting, and ROS analysis.

RESULTS

The results of histology (hematoxylin-eosin staining, safranin O-fast green staining, alizarin red S staining, and Mankin score), immunohistochemistry (COL-II, MMP-13, and p21), ELISA (IL-6 and IL-8), western blotting (COL-II, MMP-13, p21, p53, and p16), immunofluorescence, and ROS analysis indicated that the degeneration and aging in the articular cartilage of OTOG were more serious than other groups. Moreover, high concentration glucose can accelerated the degradation and aging degree of cartilage. The changes in P5 are more obvious than in P1 cells.

CONCLUSION

T2DM-induced OA can aggravate the aging of articular cartilage in aging individuals. High concentration glucose can cause a certain degree of damage, degradation, and aging of chondrocytes.

The expression regulation of Cyclins and CDKs in ovary via miR-9c and miR-263a of Scylla paramamosain

Scylla paramamosain is an economically important cultured crab species in China. Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play important roles in regulations of cell cycle and ovarian development. MiRNAs can negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through base-complementary pairing with the 3'-untranslated region (3-UTR) of the target gene. In this study, bioinformatics prediction showed that miR-9c and miR-263a identified from our group's gonad miRNAome of S. paramamosain may bind to the 3' UTR region of cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin E, cyclin H, CDK1, and CDK2. Furthermore, the results of double luciferase reporter gene assay showed that the luciferase activities of HEK293T cells co-transfected with miR-9c mimics/miR-9c inhibitor and the 3'-UTR plasmid vectors of the five genes (cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin H, CDK1, and CDK2) were significantly decreased/increased compared with those in the NC (negative control) and BC (blank control) groups. The results in miR-263a were similar to miR-9c, but all of the six genes could be regulated by miR-263a. In in vivo experiments, agomiR-9c (miR-9c enhancer) injection resulted in decreases of cyclin A and CDK1 expression level, and reverse effects were observed by injecting antagomiR-9c. AgomiR-263a decreased the expression of cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin H, CDK1, and CDK2, but antagomiR-263a increased their expression. Both the in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed functions of miR-9c and miR-263a in cell cycle progress of ovarian development by expression regulation of cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin E, cyclin H, CDK1, and CDK2. The findings provide new insights into the reproductive regulation mechanism in mud crab and further enrich the knowledge of cell cycle and ovarian development regulation in invertebrates.

miR‑146a‑5p expression is upregulated by the CXCR4 antagonist TN14003 and attenuates SDF‑1‑induced cartilage degradation

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an aseptic inflammatory disease which is associated with the stromal cell-derived factor 1/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (SDF-1/CXCR4) axis. Accumulating studies have identified numbers of microRNAs (miRNAs) that serve important roles in the pathogenesis of OA. However, whether and how the inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis induces alterations in miRNA expression remains largely unclear. miRNA profiling was performed in OA chondrocytes stimulated with SDF-1 alone, or SDF-1 with the CXCR4 antagonist TN14003 by miRNA microarray. Candidate miRNAs were verified by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Bioinformatic analyses including target prediction, gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis were performed to explore the potential functions of candidate miRNAs. Notably, 7 miRNAs (miR-146a-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-126-3p, miR-185-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-124-3p and miR-130a-3p) were significantly differentially expressed. GO analysis indicated that miR-146a-5p and its associated genes were enriched in receptor regulatory activity, nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-inducing kinase activity, cellular response to interleukin-1, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, NF-κB signaling pathway and osteoclast differentiation pathways. CXCR4 was predicted to be a target of miR-146a-5p with high importance. The mRNA and protein levels of key factors involved in cartilage degeneration were measured following manipulation of the expression levels of miR-146a-5p in OA chondrocytes. CXCR4 and MMP-3 levels were negatively associated with miR-146a-5p expression, while the levels of type II collagen and aggrecan were positively associated. These data reveal that TN14003 upregulates miR-146a-5p expression, and also pinpoints a novel role of miR-146a-5p in inhibiting cartilage degeneration by directly targeting the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.

Upregulation of microRNA‑590 in rheumatoid arthritis promotes apoptosis of bone cells through transforming growth factor‑β1/phosphoinositide 3‑kinase/Akt signaling

The aim of the present study was to further define the role of microRNA (miR)‑590 in osteoarthritis (OA) and to investigate the underlying mechanism. In brief, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze miR‑590 expression in bone tissue samples from rats with OA. Results indicated the expression of miR‑590 was increased. miR‑590 upregulation induced apoptosis in bone cells, whereas miR‑590 downregulation reduced apoptosis of bone cells. Furthermore, miR‑590 upregulation suppressed the protein expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β1, phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated (p)‑Akt in bone cells. However, downregulation of miR‑590 induced the protein expression levels of TGF‑β1, PI3K and p‑Akt in bone cells. In addition, TGF‑β1 attenuated the effects of miR‑590 upregulation on bone cell apoptosis and the inactivation of PI3K inhibited the effects of miR‑590 downregulation on bone cell apoptosis. Taken together, the present data suggested that miR‑590 promoted apoptosis in bone cells from rats with OA by regulating the TGF‑β1/PI3K signaling pathway.

Application of Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Destruction-Mediated Exogenous Gene Transfer in Treating Various Renal Diseases

Chronic renal disease or acute renal injury could result in end-stage renal disease or renal failure. Sonoporation, induced by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD), has evolved as a new technology for gene delivery. It increases the transfection efficiency of the genes into target kidney tissues. Moreover, UTMD-mediated gene delivery can directly repair the damaged tissues or improve the recruitment and homing of stem cells in the recovery of injured tissues, which has the potential to act as a non-viral and effective method to current gene therapy. This article reviews the mechanisms and applications of UTMD in terms of renal disease, including diabetic nephropathy, renal carcinoma, acute kidney injury, renal interstitial fibrosis, nephrotoxic nephritis, urinary stones, and acute rejection.

miR-34 regulates reproduction by inhibiting the expression of MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT genes in mud crab Scylla paramamosain

Mud crab Scylla paramamosain is a commercially important species widely cultured in China. It is well known that the eyestalk regulates reproductive activities in crustaceans. In our previous research, we found that the miR-34 expression level in male eyestalk was significantly higher than that in females. Thus, we assumed that it may play an important role in regulating reproduction. In this study, we used bioinformatic tools to identify the target genes of miR-34 in eyestalk. Six reproduction-related genes with an intact 3'-untranslated region (UTR), including molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH), crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH), vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone, red pigment concentrating hormone, ecdysone receptor (EcR), and farnesoic acid methyltransferase (FAMeT) were identified. When the 3'-UTR plasmid vectors of the six genes were cotransfected with miR-34 mimics into 293FT cells, respectively, the luciferase activities of four genes (MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT) were significantly decreased compared with that in the control group; on the contrary, when the six plasmid vectors were cotransfected with the miR-34 inhibitor respectively, the luciferase activities of four genes (MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT) were significantly higher than that in the control group. When agomiR-34 and antagomiR-34 were injected into the eyestalk respectively in vivo, the expression levels of the MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT genes were detected by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that agomiR-34 suppressed the expression of the four genes, whereas antagomiR-34 enhanced their expression. These experimental results confirmed our hypothesis that miR-34 may indirectly regulate reproduction via binding to the 3'-UTRs of MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT genes and suppressing their expression.

MicroRNA-136 promotes lipopolysaccharide-induced ATDC5 cell injury and inflammatory cytokine expression by targeting myeloid cell leukemia 1

Osteoarthritis is the most frequent chronic bone and joint diseases in older populations all over the world. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine chondrogenic ATDC5 cell model has been widely used for testing new osteoarthritis therapeutic targets. This study aimed to explore the effects of microRNA-136 (miR-136) on LPS-induced ATDC5 cell injury and inflammatory cytokine expression, as well as underlying potential mechanism. We found that LPS remarkably inhibited ATDC5 cell viability, induced ATDC5 cell apoptosis, and upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α; P < .01 or  < .001). Moreover, LPS obviously upregulated the expression of miR-136 in ATDC5 cells (P < .05). Overexpression of miR-136 markedly exacerbated the LPS-induced ATDC5 cell viability inhibition, cell apoptosis enhancement, and inflammatory cytokine expression (P < .05), and suppression of miR-136 had opposite effects (P < .05). Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) was a direct target gene of miR-136, which participated in the effect of miR-136 on LPS-induced ATDC5 cell inflammatory injury. Overexpression of Mcl-1 alleviated the LPS-induced inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathways, while suppression of Mcl-1 had opposite effects. To conclude, this study verified that miR-136 promoted LPS-induced ATDC5 cell injury and inflammatory cytokine expression by targeting Mcl-1, and Mcl-1 was involved in the regulatory effects of LPS on Wnt/β-catenin and JAK/STAT signaling pathways in ATDC5 cells.

Integrated bioinformatics analysis of the osteoarthritis‑associated microRNA expression signature

Numerous studies have focused on osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage injuries, with observations of abnormalities in microRNA (miRNA) expression levels. The aim of the present study was to consolidate and assess the results of these studies to identify potential miRNA biomarkers of OA. A comprehensive meta‑analysis of eight independent miRNA expression studies in OA was performed using the robust rank aggregation method (RRA), which contained a total of 82 OA and 39 normal cartilage samples. The targets of meta‑signature miRNA were predicted using TargetScan v6.2, PicTar, miRDB, TarBase v7.0 and starBase databases. In addition, pathway enrichment analysis was performed to establish the biologically and functionally relevant genes involved in meta‑signature miRNA regulation. Six dysregulated miRNAs were identified, including four up regulated (miR‑23b‑3p, miR‑27b‑3p, miR‑211‑5p and miR‑16‑5p) and two down regulated (miR‑25‑3p and miR‑149‑5p). The enrichment of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Panther signaling pathways were predominantly associated with cell signaling and cell regulation. In the present study, the meta‑signature miRNA identified may be used to develop a series of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for OA specifically for use in a clinical setting.

Association of diabetes mellitus and biochemical knee cartilage composition assessed by T2 relaxation time measurements: Data from the osteoarthritis initiative

PURPOSE

To investigate the association of the presence and severity of diabetes mellitus (DM) with articular cartilage composition, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based T₂ relaxation time measurements, and structural knee abnormalities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the Osteoarthritis Initiative 208, participants with DM (age 63.0 ± 8.9 years; 111 females) and risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA) or mild radiographic tibiofemoral OA (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] grade ≤2) were identified and group-matched with 208 controls without DM (age 63.3 ± 9.1 years; 111 females). Subjects with diabetes-related renal or ophthalmological complications or insulin treatment at baseline (n = 50) were defined as severe DM. 3T MR images of the right knee were assessed for articular cartilage T₂ , including texture and laminar analyses derived from the patella, medial, and lateral femur and tibia and for structural abnormalities using the modified whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS). Clustered linear regression analyses were used to assess associations of DM with MRI findings.

RESULTS

DM subjects had significantly higher cartilage T₂ in the patella (mean difference 0.92 msec [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79, 1.06]; P = 0.001) and medial femur (mean difference 0.36 msec [95% CI 0.27, 0.81]; P = 0.006) compared to controls. Averaged over all compartments, DM subjects showed significantly higher texture parameters (variance, P = 0.001; contrast, P = 0.002; entropy, P < 0.001). Subjects with severe DM additionally showed higher T₂ in the medial tibial deep and superficial layers (P = 0.011 and P = 0.041) compared to controls. No significant differences in cartilage, meniscus, and overall WORMS were found between the groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In comparison to nondiabetic controls, cartilage in DM subjects showed higher and more heterogeneous cartilage T₂ values, indicating increased articular cartilage degeneration. This affected even more compartments in subjects with severe DM.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2 Technical Efficacy: 5 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:380-390.

Role of MicroRNA in Osteoarthritis

Although the potential effect of aberrant expression of catabolic and anabolic genes on the development of osteoarthritis (OA) is well-documented, the regulatory mechanism for the expression of these genes in articular chondrocytes remains to be elucidated. The recent advances in epigenetic studies have identified microRNA (miRNA) as one of the epigenetic mechanisms for the regulation of gene expression. This mini review highlights the role of miRNA in the regulation of gene expression in articular chondrocytes and its significance in the pathogenesis of OA, with a discussion on the potential of miRNA as a new biomarker and therapeutic target for OA. Further investigations are required to determine the specificity, sensitivity, and efficacy of miRNA for clinical applications.

Parathyroid hormone reflects adiposity and cardiometabolic indices but not bone density in normal men

Hyperparathyroidism may be associated with skeletal and cardiovascular abnormalities, but it is unclear whether these associations exist for high-normal levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). We assessed relationships between PTH and anthropometric, skeletal and cardiometabolic indices in normal men. Body composition, blood pressure, biochemistry and bone mineral density (BMD) were evaluated in 151 healthy men. BMD was reassessed at 2 years, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) was measured at 3.5 years. Relationships between PTH and other baseline characteristics, CAC scores and change in BMD were evaluated. PTH correlated positively with baseline body mass index, fat mass, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, (r=0.19-0.25, P=0.02-0.002), and with category of CAC score. Relationships between PTH and cardiometabolic indices remained significant after adjustment for age, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and estimated glomerular filteration rate. Men in the top PTH tertile (⩾4.4 pmol l^-1, n=51) were more likely to have LDL cholesterol ⩾3.5 mmol l^-1, diastolic blood pressure ⩾85 mm Hg, and CAC score >0 than men in lower tertiles. PTH was not associated with history of fracture, baseline BMD, or change in BMD over 2 years. In summary, in this cohort of healthy men, PTH levels are linearly related to adiposity and to cardiometabolic indices, but not to BMD or bone loss. These findings suggest that adiposity should be considered as an independent cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism, and they may be relevant to patients with normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism, in whom high PTH levels may be a marker of adiposity and cardiometabolic risk rather than always indicating parathyroid autonomy.

High Percentage of Isomeric Human MicroRNA and Their Analytical Challenges

MicroRNA (miR) are short non-coding RNAs known to post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression, and have been reported as biomarkers for various diseases. miR have also been served as potential drug targets. The identity, functions and detection of a specific miR are determined by its RNA sequence, whose composition is made up of only 4 canonical ribonucleotides. Hence, among over two thousand human miR, their nucleotide compositions are expected to be similar but the extent of similarity has not been reported. In this study, the sequences of mature human miR were downloaded from miRBase, and collated using different tools to determine and compare their nucleotide compositions and sequences. 55% of all human miR were found to be structural isomers. The structural isomers of miR (SimiR) are defined as having the same size and identical nucleotide composition. A number of SimiR were also found to have high sequence similarities. To investigate the extent of SimiR in biological samples, three disease models were chosen, and disease-associated miR were identified from miR2Disease. Among the disease models, as high as 73% of miR were found to be SimiR. This report provides the missing information about human miR and highlights the challenges on the detection of SimiR.

The Role of miRNAs in Common Inflammatory Arthropathies: Osteoarthritis and Gouty Arthritis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA species that are highly evolutionarily conserved, from higher invertebrates to man. Up to 1000 miRNAs have been identified in human cells thus far, where they are key regulators of the expression of numerous targets at the post-transcriptional level. They are implicated in various processes, including cell differentiation, metabolism, and inflammation. An expanding list of miRNAs is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of common, non-autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Interestingly, osteoarthritis (OA) is now being conceptualized as a metabolic disease, as there is a correlation among hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Experimental evidence suggests that metabolic deregulation is a commonality between these different pathological entities, and that miRNAs are key players in the modulation of metabolic routes. In light of these findings, this review discusses the role of miRNAs in OA and gouty arthritis, as well as the possible therapeutic targetability of miRNAs in these diseases.

Epigenetic mechanisms underlying the aberrant catabolic and anabolic activities of osteoarthritic chondrocytes

The development of disease-modifying pharmacologic therapy for osteoarthritis currently faces major obstacles largely because the pathogenetic mechanisms for the development of osteoarthritis remain unclear. Previous studies suggest that the alterations in expression of catabolic and anabolic genes in articular chondrocytes may be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. However, the regulatory mechanisms for gene expression in osteoarthritic chondrocytes are largely unknown. The objective of this review is to highlight the recent studies on epigenetic regulation of gene expression in the development of osteoarthritis. The review will begin with current understanding of epigenetic mechanisms, especially the newly emerging areas including the regulatory role of non-coding RNAs in gene expression and crosstalk among the epigenetic mechanisms. The main content of this review focuses on the significance of epigenetic regulation of the expression of catabolic and anabolic genes in osteoarthritic chondrocytes, including the regulatory roles of various epigenetic mechanisms in the expression of genes for specific matrix-degrading proteinases, cytokines, and extracellular matrix proteins. Recent novel findings on the epigenetic regulation of specific transcription factor genes are particularly important for the understanding of osteoarthritis pathogenesis, as these transcription factors may act as upstream regulators of multiple catabolic and anabolic genes. In conclusion, these recent advances in epigenetic studies have shed light on the importance of epigenetic regulation of gene expression in the development of osteoarthritis, leading to a better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. This may promote the development of new epigenetics-based strategies for the treatment of osteoarthritis. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Epigenetics dynamics in development and disease.