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| MicroRNAs regulate biological processes by binding to mRNA 3'-untranslated region (UTR) sequences to attenuate protein synthesis. Here we identified that miR-92a are up-regulated through stages of osteoblast differentiation. Twist-1, a negative regulator of osteoblast differentiation, is validated to be a direct target of miR-92a by luciferase activity assay. Overexpression of miR-92a down-regulates Twist-1 protein expression, but not its mRNA level. Inversely, ectopic miR-92a expresson increases Runx2 expression, as well as alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin mRNA level. Twist-1 protein shows reverse profile as miR-92a and Runx2 during osteoblast differentiation. Thus, we propose that miR-92a functions as a positive regulator during osteoblast differentiation by targeting anti-osteogenic factors and activating osteogenic marker genes. |
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| Keywords: miR-92a; Twist-1; Runx2; Osteoblast differentiation |
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