Analysis of the bone metabolic function of miR-125b and its potential application in orthodontic treatment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K21040
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Ogasawara Tomohiro 広島大学, 病院(歯), 歯科診療医 (20964125)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: マイクロRNA / miR-125b / 骨代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to elucidate the physiological significance of miR-125b in bone metabolism, which regulates the differentiation of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts via distinct pathways, in order to gain insight into novel mechanism of bone metabolism regulating therapeutics.In the first year, osteoblast-specific miR-125b-1-deficient mice (miR-125b-1fl/fl; Col1a1-Cre/mice) were generated by crossbreeding. In the following year, the growth of the miR-125b-1fl/fl;Col1a1-Cre mice was monitored and the femur and tibia were slaughtered at 12 weeks of age and collected. The tibiae were taken by micro-CT to confirm the bone phenotype. RNA was extracted from the femur.

Free Research Field

骨代謝

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

骨芽細胞が分泌する基質小胞中に含まれるmiR-125bは破骨細胞の分化を抑制するが、内在性のmiR-125bは間葉系細胞や骨髄ストローマの骨芽細胞分化を抑制するといった報告もあり、miR-125bは多様な機能を持つと推定される。本研究では、Col1a1を発現する細胞でのみmiR-125b-1を欠損させたが、現状の結果では骨の表現型に影響は認めなかった。miR-125bの骨代謝における機能を解明することは歯槽骨の吸収と添加を繰り返す歯の移動において重要な知見であり、また新規作用機序に基づく骨代謝制御治療薬へとつながる知見でもあることから、社会的にも需要な意義がある。