MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) have key roles in various physiological and pathological processes by regulating the expression of specific genes. The identification of miRNAs involved in bone metabolism may provide insight into the expression of genes associated with the development of alveolar ridge atrophy. In the present study, the miRNA expression profiles in alveolar ridge atrophy and normal tissue samples were investigated by miRNA microarray analysis. Among the 52 differentially expressed miRNAs identified, the expression levels of 20 selected miRNAs in the alveolar ridge atrophy and normal tissue samples were verified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the expression levels of 11 miRNAs were significantly different between alveolar ridge atrophy and normal tissue samples; however, only three of them (miR-148b-3p, miR-337-5p and miR-423-5p) were previously reported to be involved in bone metabolism. In vitro, miR-148b-3p, miR-337-5p and miR-423-5p mimics promoted the proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from orofacial bone (OMMSCs), while antisense inhibitors of these miRNAs had the opposite effect. In conclusion, the present study indicated that these miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of alveolar ridge atrophy. miR-148b-3p, miR-337-5p and miR-423-5p promote the proliferation of OMMSCs and inhibit their apoptosis. The present results provide a novel perspective for understanding the pathogenesis of alveolar ridge atrophy.
Keywords: alveolar ridge atrophy; apoptosis; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; miRNA; proliferation.