Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also referred to as multipotent stromal cells, have been isolated from various adult tissue sources because of their capabilities of differentiating into multiple cell lineages including osteoblasts, thus providing a novel approach for treating bone diseases and metabolic disorders. Despite extensive potential in cell therapy and widespread interest in clinical applications of MSCs, the molecular mechanisms with regard to the regulation of their therapeutic properties and osteoblast differentiation remain to be fully elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a novel class of endogenous small noncoding RNAs, regulate gene expressions by translational repression or degradation of their targets. Recently, emerging evidence has shown that miRNAs are closely involved in controlling the key steps of osteoblast differentiation in MSCs. This review focuses on miRNAs and their roles in regulating osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.
Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells; Osteogenesis; Signaling pathways; Transcription factors; microRNAs.