Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Differentiation of Functional Osteoclasts from Human Peripheral Blood CD14+ Monocytes
11:52

Differentiation of Functional Osteoclasts from Human Peripheral Blood CD14+ Monocytes

Published on: January 27, 2023

4.5K

MicroRNAs are Critical Regulators of Osteoclast Differentiation

Henry C Hrdlicka1, Sun-Kyeong Lee2, Anne M Delany1

  • 1Center for Molecular Oncology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 03030.

Current Molecular Biology Reports
|February 26, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of osteoclastogenesis, influencing bone cell differentiation and function. Validating these miRNA targets is crucial for understanding bone biology and developing new treatments for bone diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Osteoclastogenesis is a complex process crucial for bone remodeling.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of cellular differentiation and function.
  • Understanding miRNA involvement in osteoclastogenesis is vital for bone health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on microRNA regulation of osteoclastogenesis.
  • To highlight validated miRNA-target interactions in osteoclast differentiation and function.
  • To explore the role of miRNAs in signaling networks controlling osteoclast biology.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of recent scientific literature.
  • Identification of microRNAs using unbiased approaches.
  • Validation of miRNA-mRNA interactions using reporter-3'UTR assays.

Main Results:

  • Specific miRNA-mRNA interactions significantly impact in vitro osteoclastogenesis.
  • Focus on signaling pathways downstream of RANK and CSF1R.
  • Examples include miRNAs targeting Nfatc1 (e.g., miR-124, miR-214) and Rho-GTPases (e.g., miR-29 family).

Conclusions:

  • Validating miRNA expression, targets, and functional impact in skeletal cells is essential.
  • This research is critical for advancing basic bone biology.
  • Understanding miRNA roles offers therapeutic potential for bone diseases.
Keywords:
OsteoclastdifferentiationfusionmiRNAmicroarraynoncoding RNA

More Related Videos

Differentiation and Characterization of Osteoclasts from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells10:52

Differentiation and Characterization of Osteoclasts from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: March 22, 2024

2.2K
Isolation, Purification, and Differentiation of Osteoclast Precursors from Rat Bone Marrow11:11

Isolation, Purification, and Differentiation of Osteoclast Precursors from Rat Bone Marrow

Published on: May 19, 2019

10.9K

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.2K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.0K
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps02:24

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
26.4K
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during...
4.1K
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
7.8K
Critical Region, Critical Values and Significance Level01:16

Critical Region, Critical Values and Significance Level

The critical region, critical value, and significance level are interdependent concepts crucial in hypothesis testing.
In hypothesis testing, a sample statistic is converted to a test statistic using z, t, or chi-square distribution. A critical region is an area under the curve in  probability distributions demarcated by the critical value. When the test statistic falls in this region, it suggests that the null hypothesis must be rejected. As this region contains all those values of the...
13.3K