MiR-138-5p knockdown promotes osteogenic differentiation through FOXC1 up-regulation in human bone mesenchymal stem cells

This study examined the hypothesis that the microRNA miR-138-5p reduces the osteodifferentiation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) by downregulating the expression of forkhead box C1 (FOXC1). For this, hBMSCs were separated from bone marrow and osteogenic induction medium was added to stimulate osteogenic differentiation. Flow cytometric analysis was applied to evaluate the expression of cell-surface antigens associated with hBMSCs, including CD29, CD44, CD90, CD45, and CD34. qRT-PCR assays and Western blot assays were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of miR-138-5p, osteocalcin, runt-related transcription factor 2, bone sialoprotein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and FOXC1. ALP staining assays and Alizarin Red staining (ARS) assays were used to confirm osteogenic differentiation. We used a luciferase assay to test the interaction between miR-138-5p and FOXC1. We demonstrated that miR-138-5p is downregulated in osteogenic differentiated hBMSCs. Further, overexpression of miR-138-5p reduced the expression of markers for osteodifferentiation, ALP activity, and ARS activity. Furthermore, we showed that FOXC1 is a downstream target gene of miR-138-5p, and that knockdown of miR-138-5p improves the osteogenesis differentiation of hBMSCs by upregulating FOXC1. The results from this study indicate miR-138-5p as a new target for osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs and the treatment of bone defects.