MicroRNA-29a represses osteoclast formation and protects against osteoporosis by regulating PCAF-mediated RANKL and CXCL12

Cell Death Dis. 2019 Sep 23;10(10):705. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1942-1.

Abstract

Osteoporosis deteriorates bone mass and biomechanical strength, becoming a life-threatening cause to the elderly. MicroRNA is known to regulate tissue remodeling; however, its role in the development of osteoporosis remains elusive. In this study, we uncovered that silencing miR-29a expression decreased mineralized matrix production in osteogenic cells, whereas osteoclast differentiation and pit formation were upregulated in bone marrow macrophages as co-incubated with the osteogenic cells in transwell plates. In vivo, decreased miR-29a expression occurred in ovariectomy-mediated osteoporotic skeletons. Mice overexpressing miR-29a in osteoblasts driven by osteocalcin promoter (miR-29aTg/OCN) displayed higher bone mineral density, trabecular volume and mineral acquisition than wild-type mice. The estrogen deficiency-induced loss of bone mass, trabecular morphometry, mechanical properties, mineral accretion and osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal cells were compromised in miR-29aTg/OCN mice. miR-29a overexpression also attenuated the estrogen loss-mediated excessive osteoclast surface histopathology, osteoclast formation of bone marrow macrophages, receptor activator nuclear factor-κ ligand (RANKL) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) expression. Treatment with miR-29a precursor improved the ovariectomy-mediated skeletal deterioration and biomechanical property loss. Mechanistically, miR-29a inhibited RANKL secretion in osteoblasts through binding to 3'-UTR of RANKL. It also suppressed the histone acetyltransferase PCAF-mediated acetylation of lysine 27 in histone 3 (H3K27ac) and decreased the H3K27ac enrichment in CXCL12 promoters. Taken together, miR-29a signaling in osteogenic cells protects bone tissue from osteoporosis through repressing osteoclast regulators RANKL and CXCL12 to reduce osteoclastogenic differentiation. Arrays of analyses shed new light on the miR-29a regulation of crosstalk between osteogenic and osteoclastogenic cells. We also highlight that increasing miR-29a function in osteoblasts is beneficial for bone anabolism to fend off estrogen deficiency-induced excessive osteoclastic resorption and osteoporosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Bone and Bones / cytology
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Cell Communication / physiology
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Osteoclasts / cytology
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism*
  • Osteoporosis / genetics*
  • Ovariectomy
  • RANK Ligand / genetics*
  • RANK Ligand / metabolism
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors / genetics
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Cxcl12 protein, mouse
  • MIRN29a microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RANK Ligand
  • Tnfsf11 protein, mouse
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors
  • p300-CBP-associated factor