CircFak promotes mechanical force-induced osteogenesis via FAK/AKT phosphorylation

Orthodontic treatment is widely applied for addressing orofacial skeletal deformities, with the remodeling of the alveolar bone under mechanical force being the key factor. FAK is essential for cellular response to mechanical force. However, the function of circFak has never been reported. In this study, the microarrays showed that circFak may affect osteogenesis under mechanical force. We aimed to verify the effect of circFak in force-related bone remodeling and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Arraystar microarrays were used to identify differentially expressed circRNAs and microRNAs in response to mechanical stress. The subcellular distribution of circFak was analyzed via RT‒qPCR and FISH. ALP and ARS staining assays were performed to investigate the effects of circFak on osteogenesis. RNA sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and RNA immunoprecipitation were accomplished to discover the molecular mechanisms of circFak. AAV-sh-circFak mouse models with tooth movements were established. The role of circFak under mechanical force in vivo was assessed via immunofluorescence and micro-CT analyses.

CircFak expression was significantly upregulated under mechanical force. Osteogenic capacity of osteoblasts was positively correlated with the level of circFak. CircFak promoted mechanical force-induced osteogenesis through miR-425-5p/Ccn3 pathway, and further stimulated the phosphorylation of its parental sourced protein FAK. Our murine models showed that AAV-mediated circFak silencing suppressed osteogenesis.

CircFak could obviously promote osteogenesis under mechanical force and may possess ability to become a novel biomarker for prognosis of orthodontic treatments.