miR‑148a‑3p facilitates osteogenic differentiation of fibroblasts in ankylosing spondylitis by activating the Wnt pathway and targeting DKK1

Sheng,Wenbo; Jiang,Haitao; Yuan,Hantao; Li,Sibo

doi:10.3892/etm.2022.11292

miR‑148a‑3p facilitates osteogenic differentiation of fibroblasts in ankylosing spondylitis by activating the Wnt pathway and targeting DKK1

Authors:
- Wenbo Sheng
- Haitao Jiang
- Hantao Yuan
- Sibo Li
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Affiliations: Department of Spine Surgery, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, P.R. China
Published online on: April 1, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11292
Article Number: 365
Copyright: © Sheng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory form of arthritis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to serve as therapeutic targets in various inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the functional mechanism of miR‑148a‑3p on AS. Specimens were collected from AS patients and non‑AS patients. Fibroblasts were delivered with the aid of miR‑148a‑3p inhibitor. Cell staining was performed to observe the morphological changes, calcified nodules, and mineralization degree. The binding sites of miR‑148a‑3p and DKK1 were predicted on the Starbase website and subsequently verified by means of dual‑luciferase reporter assay. AS fibroblasts with silenced miR‑148a‑3p were transfected with si‑DKK1. Levels of RUNX2 and Osteocalcin, DKK1 and Wnt1 protein and phosphorylation level of β‑catenin were detected by means of western blot analysis. Results of the present study denoted that AS upregulated miR‑148a‑3p in fibroblasts to exacerbate osteogenic differentiation, resulting in increased calcified nodules and mineralization degree. Silencing miR‑148a‑3p could reverse the upregulation of RUNX2 and Osteocalcin in AS fibroblasts and reduce the calcified nodules and mineralization degree. miR‑148a‑3p targeted DKK1. DKK1 knockdown averted the effect of silencing miR‑148a‑3p in AS fibroblasts. In addition, silencing miR‑148a‑3p reversed the upregulation of Wnt1 and β‑catenin proteins in AS fibroblasts. To conclude, miR‑148a‑3p exacerbated the osteogenic differentiation of AS fibroblasts by inhibiting DKK1 expression and activating the Wnt pathway.

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