Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Inducible and Reversible Dominant-negative DN Protein Inhibition
Published on: January 7, 2019
Changes in related circular RNAs following ERβ knockdown and the relationship to rBMSC osteogenesis
Xiaoyun Li1, Bojia Peng1, Xiaofeng Zhu2
1College of Pharmacy Jinan University, China.
Abstract:
Recently, several studies have indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play significant roles in various disease; however, little is known about the chronology of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) deficiency and altered circRNA expression, or their relationship with osteogenesis. Herein, we show through western-blot and quantitative real-time PCR assays, that when ERβ is silenced, the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins and mRNAs were down-regulated. We then performed RNA-Seq to analyze differential circRNA expression between the control and ERβ knockdown group. This analysis revealed that, 146 circRNAs were differentially expressed by fold-change≥2.0, p ≤ 0.05, and, among this group, 68 circRNAs were down-regulated, while 78 were up-regulated. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and PANTHER pathway analyses were performed to predict the function of these differentially expressed circRNAs. Finally, co-expressed targets gene, and circRNA-microRNA network were constructed for predicted miRNA sponges. This research suggested that ERβ may through 2:27713879|27755789/2:240822115|240867796-miR-328-5p-mRNA axis to regulate osteogenic differentiation.
Insights
Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) deficiency impairs osteogenesis by altering circular RNA (circRNA) expression. ERβ may regulate bone formation via a specific circRNA-microRNA-mRNA pathway.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their roles in various diseases.
- The specific impact of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) deficiency on circRNA expression and osteogenesis remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between ERβ deficiency, circRNA expression, and osteogenic differentiation.
- To identify specific circRNAs and pathways involved in ERβ-mediated osteogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR to assess osteogenesis markers.
- RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify differentially expressed circRNAs.
- Bioinformatic analyses including Gene Ontology (GO), KEGG, and PANTHER pathway analysis.
- Construction of circRNA-microRNA-mRNA networks.
Main Results:
- ERβ silencing led to down-regulation of osteogenesis-related proteins and mRNAs.
- RNA-Seq identified 146 differentially expressed circRNAs (68 down-regulated, 78 up-regulated) upon ERβ knockdown.
- Pathway analysis predicted functions of these circRNAs, and a specific regulatory axis (ERβ-miR-328-5p-mRNA) was proposed.
Conclusions:
- ERβ plays a crucial role in regulating osteogenic differentiation.
- Altered circRNA expression is a consequence of ERβ deficiency and contributes to impaired osteogenesis.
- The identified ERβ-miR-328-5p-mRNA axis is a potential mechanism for ERβ in regulating osteogenic differentiation.
Related Concept Videos
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
01:16TGF - β Signaling Pathway