MicroRNA-410 participates in the pathological process of postmenopausal osteoporosis by downregulating bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and microRNA (miR)-410 expression and the mechanism of regulation in serum and CD14+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from postmenopausal osteoporosis patients and model mice. A total of 26 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were included in the experimental group and 29 age-matched healthy subjects were included in the control group. A total of 60 mice were divided into sham and ovariectomized (OVX) groups. Following surgery, 28 mice remained in the sham and 25 mice remained in OVX group. BMP-2 protein expression in serum and CD14+ PBMCs from patients and model mice was determined using ELISA and western blotting, respectively. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to determine miR-410 and BMP-2 mRNA levels in serum and CD14+ PBMCs from patients and model mice. Dual luciferase reporter assays were used to identify direct interactions between miR-410 and BMP-2 mRNA. Compared with the control group, BMP-2 mRNA and protein expression in serum and CD14+ PBMCs from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and model mice were significantly decreased. miR-410 levels in serum and CD14+ PBMCs from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and model mice were significantly increased when compared with the control group. Dual luciferase reporter assays revealed that BMP-2 was a target gene of miR-410. The current study demonstrated that decreased BMP-2 expression in serum and CD14+ PBMCs from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis was associated with the upregulation of miR-410. These results suggest that miR-410 may participate in the pathological process of postmenopausal osteoporosis by downregulating BMP-2.