Analysis of circulating osteocyte-derived exosomes contain miRNAs which are enriched in exosomes from MLO-Y4 cells

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K20830
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Functional basic dentistry; Orthodontics/Pediatric dentistry
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Mari 北海道大学, 歯学研究科, 助教 (40546488)
• Research Collaborator: TAMURA Masato 北海道大学, 歯学研究科, 教授 (30236757) ; KAWANO Mitsuoki 新潟薬科大学, 応用生命科学部, 助教 (00455338)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: Osteocyte / Exosome / micro RNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Signaling molecules produced by osteocytes have been proposed to act as soluble factors which contribute to bone remodeling as well as homeostasis of other organs. However, there have been no studies into the role of osteocyte-secreted exosomes. Here, we demonstrate that ablation of osteocytes in mice (osteocyte-less, OL) alters miRNA levels of plasma-circulating exosomes. To explore the function of osteocyte-secreted exosomes, we extracted exosomes derived from MLO-Y4 cells and examined their miRNA expression levels using miRNA array analysis and deep sequencing. Comparison of miRNA expression levels between plasma exosomes from OL mouse plasma and MLO-Y4-derived exosomes revealed that decreases in the miRNAs from exosomes circulating in OL mouse plasma may be caused by a decrease in leakage or secretion of exosomes from osteocytes. These results suggest that osteocytes secrete exosomes containing characterized miRNAs.

Free Research Field

骨代謝学