title: Impaired osteogenic differentiation associated with connexin43/microRNA-206 in steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
abstract: Connexin(Cx)43 and microRNA(miR)-206 play an important role in osteogenesis. However, their role in steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis (SANFH) is still ambiguous. The present study aimed to establish a rabbit model and investigate osteogenesis in steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis occurring via Cx43/miR-206 and the changes of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway-related proteins. A total of 72 adult New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into a model group (Group A) and a control group (Group B) of 36 rabbits each. Group A was injected intravenously with lipopolysaccharide (10μg/kg body weight, once per day). After 48h, three injections of methylprednisolone (MPS; 20mg/kg body weight) were administered intramuscularly at 24-hour intervals. Group B were fed and housed under identical conditions but received saline injections. All animals were sacrificed at two, four, and eight weeks from the first MPS injection. Typical early osteonecrosis symptoms were observed in Group A. The expression of miR-206 in Group A was significantly higher than that of Group B. The mRNA and protein levels of Cx43, β-catenin, runt-related transcription factor 2, and alkaline phosphatase gradually decreased while Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) gradually increased in Group A compared with Group B. These findings indicated that Cx43/miR-206 is involved in the pathogenesis of early stage SANFH and may be associate with Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Gaobin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. Electronic address: zdb71718@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhandong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Xiaonan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Donghui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005270:Femur Head / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids
keywords: Osteogenesis; Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head; connexin43; microRNA-206; β-catenin