RETRACTED: Inhibited microRNA-218-5p attenuates synovial inflammation and cartilage injury in rats with knee osteoarthritis by promoting sclerostin

Abstract

In recent decades, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human diseases has been widely studied. This research is designed to explore the effect of miR-218-5p on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) progression in a rat model with the involvement of sclerostin (SOST). The KOA rat models were constructed by Hulth method, and then were classified into the KOA, miR-218-5p inhibitor, inhibitor negative control (NC), overexpressed (OE)-SOST, OE-NC, miR-218-5p inhibitor + si-SOST, or miR-218-5p inhibitor + si-NC group. The pathological changes of rats' synovial tissues were observed; the apoptosis in rat synovial tissues was assessed; levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, PGE2 and COX-2 in serum and synovial tissues, along with SOD and MDA contents in synovial tissues were determined. The morphological changes in cartilage tissues were observed. MMP-13 and Col II expression in cartilage tissues was assessed; expression of β-catenin and Col2A1 in cartilage tissues was assessed. miR-218-5p and SOST expression in rat knee joint tissues was assessed. KOA rats had increased miR-218-5p expression and decreased SOST expression. MiR-218-5p targeted SOST. Rats injected with miR-218-5p inhibitor and OE-SOST had alleviated pathological changes, reduced TUNEL positive cell rate, decreased serum contents of IL-1β, TNF-α, PGE2, COX-2 and MDA, and increased SOD activity in synovial tissues, alleviated pathological changes, enhanced Col II positive rate and reduced MMP-13 positive rate, decreased β-catenin expression and increased Col2A1 expression in cartilage tissues. The miR-218-5p inhibition could attenuate synovial inflammation and cartilage injury in KOA rats by promoting SOST, which may be helpful for KOA treatment.