Biological functions of miR-29b contribute to positive regulation of osteoblast differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Bone tissue arises from mesenchymal cells induced into the osteoblast lineage by essential transcription factors and signaling cascades. MicroRNAs regulate biological processes by binding to mRNA 3'-untranslated region (UTR) sequences to attenuate protein synthesis. Here we performed microRNA profiling and identified miRs that are up-regulated through stages of osteoblast differentiation. Among these are the miR-29, miR-let-7, and miR-26 families that target many collagens and extracellular matrix proteins. We find that miR-29b supports osteoblast differentiation through several mechanisms. miR-29b decreased and anti-miR-29b increased activity of COL1A1, COL5A3, and COL4A2 3'-UTR sequences in reporter assays, as well as endogenous gene expression. These results support a mechanism for regu

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2708864 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature