Role of maternally expressed 8 small nucleolar RNA (MEG8) in osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells

Objectives: Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are essential for the treatment of bone diseases because of its great potential to differentiate into osteoblasts. Remarkably, increasing long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. Maternally expressed 8, small nucleolar RNA host gene (MEG8) is implicated in multiple diseases. This study intended to unearth the potential role of MEG8 and unveil the mechanism in PDLSCs undergoing osteoblastic differentiation.

Materials and methods: MEG8 expression was measured by quantitative Real-Time PCR (RT-qPCR) during osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs into bone cells. Functional assays were used to uncover the biological function of MEG8. Besides, RNA pulldown, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), and luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the molecular mechanism of MEG8.

Results: MEG8 was apparently overexpressed in osteogenically differentiated PDLSCs. Moreover, MEG8 deficiency suppressed the osteoblastic differentiation of PDLSCs. Furthermore, MEG8 modulated the expression of transcription factor 4 (TCF4) by scavenging microRNA-495-3p (miR-495-3p) and microRNA-485-3p (miR-485-3p) through the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism, further stimulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Conclusion: MEG8 stimulates the capacity of PDLSCs for osteogenic differentiation through a ceRNA mode.

MEG8; TCF4; miR-485-3p; miR-495-3p; osteogenic differentiation.