MicroRNA-488 suppresses cell migration through modulation of the focal adhesion activity during chondrogenic differentiation of chick limb mesenchymal cells

Abstract

miRNAs (microRNAs) have proven to play essential roles in diverse biological processes including early development, cell proliferation and cell death, and cell differentiation. However, there is only limited amount of information about their potential role in chondrogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the role of miRNA-488 in the cellular condensation, which is essential initiation for chondrogenic differentiation. We found that miRNA-488 expression is up-regulated at the precondensation stage and then down-regulated at the postcondensation stage. Blockade of miRNA-488 via the use of PNA (peanut agglutinin)-based ASOs (antisense oligonucleotides) decreased the protein level of integrins β1 and phosphorylated FAK (focal adhesion kinase) and resulted in the suppression of cell motility and migration. Moreover, in parallel with theses observation, treatment of anti-miRNA-488 oligonucleotides up-regulated the level of MMP (matrix metalloprotease)-2 activity, and co-treatment with GM6001, an MMP inhibitor, induced recovery of cellular condensation inhibited by blockade of miRNA-488. Collectively, our results suggest that miRNA-488 is one of regulator in cell to ECM (extracellular matrix) interaction through modulation of focal adhesion activity by MMP-2 during chondrogenesis of limb mesenchymal cells.