The Multiple Roles of Microrna-223 in Regulating Bone Metabolism

Bone metabolism is a lifelong process for maintaining skeletal system homeostasis, which is regulated by bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Aberrant differentiation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts leads to imbalanced bone metabolism, resulting in ossification and osteolysis diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal factors in regulating bone metabolism via post-transcriptional inhibition of target genes. Recent studies have revealed that miR-223 exerts multiple effects on bone metabolism, especially in the processes of osteoclast and osteoblasts differentiation. In this review, we highlight the roles of miR-223 during the processes of osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation, as well as the potential clinical applications of miR-223 in bone metabolism disorders

Proteomic Analysis of Estrogen-Mediated Signal Transduction in Osteoclasts Formation

Estrogen plays an important role in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and protecting against bone loss from osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the effect of estrogen on osteoclasts are not well known. In the present study, we performed proteomics analysis and bioinformatics analysis to comprehensively compare the differential expression of proteins in receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand RANKL-induced osteoclasts in the presence and absence of estrogen. We identified 6403 proteins, of which 124 were upregulated and 231 were downregulated by estrogen. Bioinformatics analysis showed that estrogen treatment interfered with 77 intracellular pathways, including both confirmed canonical and unconfirmed pathways of osteoclast formation. Our findings validate the inhibitory effect of estrogen on osteoclasts via the promotion of apoptosis and suppression of differentiation and polarization and suggest that estrogen might inhibit osteoclast formation via other pathways, which requires further investigation and verification