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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Comparing Alveolar and Long Bone Remodeling to Explore OTM Model Potential
Published on: July 21, 2023
Role of Osterix and MicroRNAs in Bone Formation and Tooth Development
Chuan Wang1, Haiqing Liao1, Zhengguo Cao1
1The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST KLOS) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education (KLOBME), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland).
Abstract:
Osterix (Osx) is an osteoblast-specific transcription factor that is essential for bone formation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ~22-nucleotide-long noncoding RNAs that play important regulatory roles in animals and plants by targeting mRNAs for cleavage or translational repression. They can also control osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-related bone remodeling. The vital roles of Osx and miRNAs during bone formation have been well studied, but very few studies have discussed their co-functions and the relationships between them. In this review, we outline the significant functions of Osx and miRNAs on certain cell types during osteogenesis and illustrate their roles during tooth development. More importantly, we discuss the relationship between Osx and miRNAs, which we believe could lead to a new treatment for skeletal and periodontal diseases.
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