title: MiR-637 maintains the balance between adipocytes and osteoblasts by directly targeting Osterix.
abstract: Bone development is dynamically regulated by homeostasis, in which a balance between adipocytes and osteoblasts is maintained. Disruption of this differentiation balance leads to various bone-related metabolic diseases, including osteoporosis. In the present study, a primate-specific microRNA (miR-637) was found to be involved in the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Our preliminary data indicated that miR-637 suppressed the growth of hMSCs and induced S-phase arrest. Expression of miR-637 was increased during adipocyte differentiation (AD), whereas it was decreased during osteoblast differentiation (OS), which suggests miR-637 could act as a mediator of adipoosteogenic differentiation. Osterix (Osx), a significant transcription factor of osteoblasts, was shown to be a direct target of miR-637, which significantly enhanced AD and suppressed OS in hMSCs through direct suppression of Osx expression. Furthermore, miR-637 also significantly enhanced de novo adipogenesis in nude mice. In conclusion, our data indicated that the expression of miR-637 was indispensable for maintaining the balance of adipocytes and osteoblasts. Disruption of miR-637 expression patterns leads to irreversible damage to the balance of differentiation in bone marrow.
authors: Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, PR China.
authors: Jin-fang
authors: JF
authors: Zhang
authors: Wei-ming
authors: WM
authors: Fu
authors: Ming-liang
authors: ML
authors: He
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Wei-mao
authors: WM
authors: Wang
authors: Shi-cang
authors: SC
authors: Yu
authors: Xiu-Wu
authors: XW
authors: Bian
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: Marie C M
authors: MC
authors: Lin
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Lu
authors: Wai-sang
authors: WS
authors: Poon
authors: Hsiang-fu
authors: HF
authors: Kung
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000076182:Sp7 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C569538:MIRN637 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D000076182:Sp7 Transcription Factor; C478163:SP7 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase