Long Non-coding RNA-2271 Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation in Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are of great significance for bone regeneration and bone formation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be involved in modulating cell differentiation. This study aimed to investigate the role of lncR-2271 in promoting osteogenic differentiation in human BMSCs.

Human BMSCs were infected using lncR-2271 overexpression (group A) with lentiviral system or transfected with lncR-2271 siRNA (group B). Cells transfected with scrambled plasmids were used as a negative control (group C). Osteogenesis markers were evaluated using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, RUNX2 and osterix (OSX) at protein levels and calcification by Alizarin Red staining.

BMSCs from group A showed significantly higher ALP activity compared to BMSCs in group B and control group (group C) at both days 7 and 14 following osteogenic induction; ALP activity was significantly lower in the group B compared to the group C. RUNX2 and OSX protein expressions were significantly higher in group A and significantly lower in group B, compared to those in group C, respectively. At day 21, calcification in human BMSCs in group A was significantly higher compared to groups B and C as shown by Alizarin Red staining; calcification was significantly lower in group B compared to group C.

Our data suggested lncR-2271 played a role in promoting osteogenic differentiation in human BMSCs. This study is the first to illustrate the important role of lncR-2271 in bone formation.