MiR-337-3p confers protective effect on facet joint osteoarthritis by targeting SKP2 to inhibit DUSP1 ubiquitination and inactivate MAPK pathway

Objective: To probe the performance of miR-337-3p on the facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA) and its underlying mechanism.

Methods: qRT-PCR and Western blot were utilized to analyze the levels of miR-337-3p and DUSP1 in the synovial tissues from 36 FJOA patients and 10 healthy controls. The human synovial fibroblasts of FJOA were isolated and cultured followed by Cell Transfection. Then, cells were exposed to 10 ng/mL of IL-1β to induce inflammatory response of synovial fibroblasts. The alternation on cell biological function in cell models was determined. The binding of miR-337-3p and SKP2 was predicted by StarBase, TargetScan, DIANA-microT and miRmap, and further verified by RIP assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Co-IP experiment and ubiquitination assay were used to display the binding of SKP2 and DUSP1 as well as the ubiquitination and degradation of DUSP1. After that, the FJOA rat model was established and miR-337-3p mimic or negative control was given to rats by tail vein injection. The pathological changes of synovial tissues, synovitis score, and inflammation level in rats were assessed.

Results: The low expressions of miR-337-3p and DUSP1 were noticed in the synovial tissues of FJOA patients and in IL-1β-induced synovial fibroblasts, and highly expressed p-p38 MAPK was noticed. Upregulation of miR-337-3p/DUSP1 or downregulation of SKP2 inhibited IL-1β-induced proliferation and inflammatory response of synovial fibroblasts. SKP2 was the target gene of miR-337-3p, and SKP2 induced the ubiquitination and degradation of DUSP1. MiR-337-3p exerted a protective effect on FJOA rats by alleviating damage of rat synovial tissues, promoting cell Apoptosis and repressing inflammatory response.

Conclusion: MiR-337-3p plays a protective role in FJOA by negatively targeting SKP2 to suppress DUSP1 ubiquitination and inactivate the p38 MAPK pathway.