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Emerging roles of microRNAs as extracellular vesicle cargo secreted from osteoblasts

Yuji Yoshiko1, Tomoko Minamizaki1

  • 1Department of Calcified Tissue Biology, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.

Journal of Oral Biosciences
|June 15, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Matrix vesicles (MVs) transport microRNAs (miRNAs) into bone, regulating bone mass. MiR-125b delivered by MVs suppresses osteoclastogenesis, increasing bone mass in mice.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate cell-cell communication.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key cargo within EVs.
  • The role of matrix vesicles (MVs), a class of EVs, in miRNA transport and recipient cell regulation is largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of MVs in transporting miRNAs within the bone matrix.
  • To determine if MVs deliver functional miRNAs that regulate bone cell function.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of miRNA content in MVs derived from osteoblasts.
  • Investigating the transfer of MVs and their miRNA cargo to the bone matrix.
  • Assessing the impact of specific miRNAs on osteoclast precursor cells and osteoclastogenesis in vivo.

Main Results:

  • MVs budding from osteoblasts contain numerous miRNAs, which are transferred to the bone matrix.
  • miR-125b was identified as a key miRNA released from MVs into the bone marrow microenvironment.
  • In vivo, miR-125b targeted Prdm1 in osteoclast precursors, suppressing osteoclastogenesis and increasing bone mass in mice.

Conclusions:

  • MVs are involved in transporting miRNAs from osteoblasts into the bone matrix, extending their known function beyond mineralization.
  • The miR-125b/Prdm1 axis demonstrates a novel mechanism of miRNA-mediated cell-cell communication in the skeletal system.
  • Other miRNAs transported by MVs likely play significant roles in skeletal biology and cell communication.
Keywords:
Cell–cell communicationExtracellular vesiclesMatrix vesiclesMicroRNAsOsteoblasts

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