2. Academic Validation
  3. miR-140-5p protects cartilage progenitor/stem cells from fate changes in knee osteoarthritis

miR-140-5p protects cartilage progenitor/stem cells from fate changes in knee osteoarthritis

  • Int Immunopharmacol. 2023 Jan;114:109576. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109576.
Yang Chen 1,  Hua Huang 2,  Wen Zhong 1,  Lan Li 1,  Yanrong Lu 3,  Hai-Bo Si 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
  • 2 Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan, China.
  • 3 Department of Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: luyanrong@scu.edu.cn.
  • 4 Department of Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: sihaibo@wchscu.cn.
PMID: 36527878 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109576
Abstract

Cartilage progenitor/stem cells (CPCs) are promising seed cells for cartilage regeneration, but their fate changes and regulatory mechanisms in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role and potential mechanism of the microRNA-140-5p (miR-140-5p), whose protective role in knee OA has been confirmed by our previous studies, in OA CPCs fate reprogramming. Firstly, the normal and OA CPCs were isolated, and the fate Indicators, miR-140-5p, Jagged1, and Notch signals were detected and analyzed. Then, the effect of miR-140-5p and the Notch pathway on CPCs fate reprogramming and miR-140-5p on Jagged1/Notch signaling was investigated in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes in vitro. Finally, the effect of miR-140-5p on OA CPCs fate reprogramming and the potential mechanisms were validated in OA rats. As a result, CPCs percentage was increased in the mild OA cartilage-derived total chondrocytes while decreased in the advanced OA group. Significant fate changes (including reduced cell viability, migration, chondrogenesis, and increased Apoptosis), increased Jagged1 and Notch signals, and reduced miR-140-5p were observed in OA CPCs and associated with OA progression. IL-1β induced OA-like changes in CPCs fate, which could be exacerbated by miR-140-5p inhibitor while alleviated by DAPT (a specific Notch Inhibitor) and miR-140-5p mimic. Finally, the in vitro phenomenal and mechanistic findings were validated in OA rats. Overall, miR-140-5p protects CPCs from fate changes via inhibiting Jagged1/Notch signaling in knee OA, providing attractive targets for OA therapeutics.

Keywords

Cartilage progenitor/stem cells; Cell fate; Jagged1; Notch signaling; Osteoarthritis; miR-140-5p.

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