1. Academic Validation
  2. Dual functions of microRNA-17 in maintaining cartilage homeostasis and protection against osteoarthritis

Dual functions of microRNA-17 in maintaining cartilage homeostasis and protection against osteoarthritis

  • Nat Commun. 2022 May 4;13(1):2447. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30119-8.
Yun Zhang 1 Shuaijun Li 2 Peisheng Jin 3 Ting Shang 4 Ruizhu Sun 2 Laiya Lu 1 Kaijin Guo 5 Jiping Liu 1 Yongjuan Tong 4 Junbang Wang 6 Sanhong Liu 7 Chen Wang 7 Yubin Kang 4 Wenmin Zhu 1 Qian Wang 2 Xiaoren Zhang 8 Feng Yin 1 Yi Eve Sun 9 Lei Cui 10 11 12
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation & Institute for Regenerative Medicine & Department of Joint Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
  • 2 Key Laboratory of spine and spinal cord injury repair and regeneration, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China & Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
  • 3 Department of Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
  • 4 Department of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
  • 5 Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
  • 6 Translational Stem Cell Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
  • 7 Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
  • 8 Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
  • 9 Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation & Institute for Regenerative Medicine & Department of Joint Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. yi.eve.sun@gmail.com.
  • 10 Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation & Institute for Regenerative Medicine & Department of Joint Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 14209@tongji.edu.cn.
  • 11 Key Laboratory of spine and spinal cord injury repair and regeneration, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China & Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 14209@tongji.edu.cn.
  • 12 Department of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 14209@tongji.edu.cn.
Abstract

Damaged hyaline cartilage has no capacity for self-healing, making osteoarthritis (OA) "difficult-to-treat". Cartilage destruction is central to OA patho-etiology and is mediated by matrix degrading Enzymes. Here we report decreased expression of miR-17 in osteoarthritic chondrocytes and its deficiency contributes to OA progression. Supplementation of exogenous miR-17 or its endogenous induction by Growth Differentiation Factor 5, effectively prevented OA by simultaneously targeting pathological catabolic factors including matrix metallopeptidase-3/13 (MMP3/13), aggrecanase-2 (ADAMTS5), and nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2). Single-cell RNA Sequencing of hyaline cartilage revealed two distinct superficial chondrocyte populations (C1/C2). C1 expressed physiological catabolic factors including MMP2, and C2 carries synovial features, together with C3 in the middle zone. MiR-17 is highly expressed in both superficial and middle chondrocytes under physiological conditions, and maintains the physiological catabolic and anabolic balance potentially by restricting HIF-1α signaling. Together, this study identified dual functions of miR-17 in maintaining cartilage homeostasis and prevention of OA.

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