[Preliminary study of impact of steroids on expression profile and transcriptome of bone microvascular endothelial...

To explore the differential expression profiles and transcriptomes of human bone microvascular endothelial cells via microarray and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying steroids-induced osteonecrosis.

Bone microvascular endothelial cells in cancellous bone of femoral head were harvested by type I collagenase and trypsin digestion and identified by immunofluorescent labeling with primary antibodies specific for vascular endothelial cells' biomarkers such as von Willebrand factor, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, vascular endothelial cadherin and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1. Their differential expression profiles and transcriptomes were tested by double-labeled lncRNAs + mRNAs microarrays and single-labeledd microRNAs microarrays. The data were analyzed by bioinformatical software with database checking. The authors spatial correlations and expression relevance were established among lncRNAs, microRNAs and mRNAs.

Steroids incurred specific changes in mRNAs, microRNAs and lncRNAs transcribed in human bone microvascular endothelial cells of femoral head in vitro cultured. Thus a model of coexpression network was constructed among transcript modules with bioinformatical tools such as target gene prediction.

Steroids induced significant changes in transcripts of bone microvascular endothelial cells such as miR-100, miR-222, miR-933, miR-339 and miR-23. They exert considerable influences on osseous tissues and circulatory systems in cancellous bone by targeting cytokines and enzymes such catalase, fibroblast growth factor and nerve growth factor. Through further explorations of these transcripts, we can not only elucidate the underlying pathogenesis, but also discover specific biomarkers and therapeutic targets for corresponding diseases.