MiR-20a: a mechanosensitive microRNA that regulates fluid shear stress-mediated osteogenic differentiation via the BMP2 signaling pathway by targeting BAMBI and SMAD6

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of diverse biological and pathological processes. This study aimed to investigate the role of microRNA 20a (miR-20a) in fluid shear stress (FSS)-mediated osteogenic differentiation.|In the present study, we subjected osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells or mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) to single bout short duration FSS (12 dyn/cm|Osteoblast-expressed miR-20a is sensitive to the mechanical environments of FSS, which are differentially up-regulated during steady FSS-mediated osteogenic differentiation. MiR-20a enhances FSS-induced osteoblast differentiation by activating the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) signaling pathway. Both BMP and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI) and mothers against decapentaplegic family member 6 (SMAD6) are targets of miR-20a that negatively regulate the BMP2 signaling pathway.|MiR-20a is a novel mechanosensitive miRNA that can enhance osteoblast differentiation in FSS mechanical environments, implying that this miRNA might be a target for bone tissue engineering and orthodontic bone remodeling for regenerative medicine applications.