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Calcium deposition in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a form of ectopic ossification in blood vessels. It can result in rigidity of the vasculature and an increase in cardiac events. Here, we report that the microRNA miR-134-5p potentiates inorganic phosphate (Pi)-induced calcium deposition in VSMCs by inhibiting histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5). Using miRNA microarray analysis of Pi-treated rat VSMCs, we first selected miR-134-5p for further evaluation. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that miR-134-5p was increased in Pi-treated A10 cells, a rat VSMC line. Transfection of miR-134-5p mimic potentiated the Pi-induced increase in calcium contents. miR-134-5p increased the amounts of bone runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) protein and bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) mRNA in the presence of Pi but decreased the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG). Bioinformatic analysis showed that the HDAC5 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) was one of the targets of miR-134-5p. The luciferase construct containing the 3'UTR of HDAC5 was down-regulated by miR-134-5p mimic in a dose-dependent manner in VSMCs. Overexpression of HDAC5 mitigated the calcium deposition induced by miR-134-5p. Our results suggest that a Pi-induced increase of miR-134-5p may cause vascular calcification through repression of HDAC5., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Osteoporosis or osteopenia are common clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD) with unclear mechanisms. Since senescence of circulating neutrophil can be modulated by signals derived from intestinal microbiome and neutrophils are abundant in bone marrow and can regulate osteoblasts and osteoclasts, we examined whether gut microbiome contributes to bone loss in SCD mice. SCD and their littermates control mice were treated with antibiotics to deplete gut microbiome. At the end of 7 weeks treatment, serum was collected for biochemistry marker measurements. Bone mass and remodeling were evaluated by dual beam X-ray absorptiometry, micro-computed tomography, and histomorphometry. Bone-related genes in tibia and barrier marker genes in the small intestine were analyzed by quantitative PCR. Antibiotic treatment rescued increased intestinal inflammatory cytokine marker genes (Tnfα, IL17, Ifnγ) expression, rescued decreased intestinal barrier marker genes (claudin 3 and claudin 15) expression, and rescued increased serum cytokines (IFNγ, IL27, IL10) in SCD mice. Antibiotic significantly improved decreased bone mass in SCD mice mainly through enhanced osteoblast function and increased osteoblast-related genes (Runx2 and Igf1) expression in SCD mice. Our findings support that increased bacteria load augments antigenic load traversing the impaired intestinal barrier through inflammation, leading to increased inflammatory cytokines, impaired osteoblast function, and bone loss in SCD mice.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from adult tissues (Ad-MSCs) have shown great promise for use in regenerative medicine. However, their poor in vitro expansion capacity and tissue scarcity have been major limitations. In this study, we demonstrate that mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) can differentiate into cells with MSC properties., Methods: Using previously established methods that characterize Ad-MSCs, we analyzed mESC-differentiated fibroblasts (mESC-FBs), including plastic adherence, clonogenic growth, MSC marker expression, tri-lineage differentiation potential, and the capacity to express immunomodulators., Results: Although previously characterized as mESC-differentiated fibroblasts (mESC-FBs), these cells exhibit major properties of Ad-MSCs. However, mESC-FBs also display unique features inherited from ESCs, including robust expansion capacity, senescence resistance, and attenuated innate immunity. In particular, mESC-FBs are insensitive to bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and do not express LPS-induced inflammatory molecules, in contrast to bone marrow (BM)-MSCs. We further demonstrate that mESC-FBs are resistant to the cytotoxicity associated with inflammatory cytokines, bacterial endotoxins (LPS and heat-killed bacteria), and macrophage-mediated inflammation., Conclusions: While it remains to be determined how the unique properties of mESC-FBs will affect their immunoregulatory activity under an in vivo condition, our findings demonstrate that ESCs could be used as an alternative source to generate a new class of ESC-MSCs with unique features potentially useful in regenerative medicine.

Background/aims: Osteomyelitis is defined as an inflammation of the bones and bone marrow. The inflammatory microenvironment attenuates the osteogenic differentiation capacity of stem cells and inhibits osteoblast-mediated bone formation, leading to net bone loss. However, the whole expression profile, function and side effect of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) on osteogenic differentiation of stem cells in an inflammatory microenvironment of osteomyelitis are not known., Methods: In the present study, human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) were treated with different concentrations of Staphylococcal protein A (SpA) to trigger an inflammatory microenvironment in vitro to partly duplicate the inflammatory microenvironment of osteomyelitis, which was confirmed using ELISA for detecting the inflammatory cytokines. The complete expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNA during osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs in an inflammatory microenvironment triggered by SpA were analyzed using a lncRNA microarray. LncRNA expression levels were verified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis (qRT-PCR). The expression of NONHSAT009968 in hB-MSCs was silenced by infection with lentivirus expressing NONHSAT009968-shRNA. The expression of Runx2, OCN, OPN, COL1A1, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected by western blot. Alizarin red staining and ALP activity detection were carried out., Results: The results of ELISA showed that SpA treatment induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-1A, IL-6, and TNFA. The results of alizarin red staining and ALP detection showed that SpA treatment suppressed the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. A total of 2033 lncRNAs were found with aberrant expression in SpA-treated hBMSCs compared to controls. Among these lncRNAs, 641 were down-regulated and 1392 were up-regulated. Based on the results of qRT-PCR, lncRNA NONHSAT009968 was chosen for further investigation. The results of alizarin red staining, ALP activity detection, and western blot detection of Runx2, OCN, OPN, COL1A1, and ALP indicated that NONHSAT009968 silencing ameliorates SpA-inhibited osteogenic differentiation in hBMSCs., Conclusion: Our present study provides a basis for future analyses of the role of lncRNAs in osteoblastic differentiation in an inflammatory environment triggered by SpA, and lncRNA NONHSAT009968 might be a new target for promoting osteoblast formation., (© 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

RUNX2, a key transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation, is regulated by ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase-mediated phosphorylation. However, the specific contribution of each kinase to RUNX2-dependent transcription is not known. Here we investigate ERK and p38 regulation of RUNX2 using a unique P-RUNX2-specific antibody. Both MAP kinases stimulated RUNX2 Ser319 phosphorylation and transcriptional activity. However, a clear preference for ERK1 versus p38α/β was found when the ability of these MAPKs to phosphorylate and activate RUNX2 was compared. Similarly, ERK1 preferentially bound to a consensus MAPK binding site on RUNX2 that was essential for the activity of either kinase. To assess the relative contribution of ERK1/2 and p38 to osteoblast gene expression, MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells were grown in control or ascorbic acid (AA)-containing medium ± BMP2/7. AA-induced gene expression, which requires collagen matrix synthesis, was associated with parallel increases in P-ERK and RUNX2-S319-P in the absence of any changes in P-p38. This response was blocked by ERK, but not p38, inhibition. Significantly, in the presence of AA, BMP2/7 synergistically stimulated RUNX2 S319 phosphorylation and transcriptional activity without affecting total RUNX2 and this response was totally dependent on ERK/MAPK activity. In contrast, although p38 inhibition partially blocked BMP-dependent transcription, it did not affect RUNX2 S319 phosphorylation, suggesting the involvement of other phosphorylation sites and/or transcription factors in this response. Based on this work, we conclude that extracellular matrix and BMP regulation of RUNX2 phosphorylation and transcriptional activity in osteoblasts is predominantly mediated by ERK rather than p38 MAPKs., (© 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research)

Runx2 is a new transcription factor that takes part in odontoblast differentiation. This study is aimed at investigating the immunolocalization and expression of Runx2 in the process of dental pulp injury and repair using immunohistochemical technique. In normal dental pulp, positive staining can hardly be detected. In experimental groups, strong positive staining was detected at the site of the impaired pulp after 1 day, while only weak Runx2 staining was detected 3 days after operation. Five days later, a large number of stellate cells in the root apex expressed Runx2, and after 7 days, followed by the reparative dentinogenesis, Runx2 expression vanished slowly, then totally disappeared. Taken together, the expression of Runx2 has temporal and spatial specificity during different phases in rat tertiary dentinogenesis.