Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (29): 4736-4744.doi: 10.12307/2023.486

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Role and mechanism by which long non-coding RNAs regulate subchondral bone homeostasis in knee osteoarthritis

Wei Zongbo1, Su Yunyu2, Zhang Xiaoyun1, Huang Wei1, Xu Hang1, Liu Rongfa1   

  1. 1Ruikang Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2Qinzhou First People’s Hospital, Qinzhou 535000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2022-07-21 Accepted:2022-08-18 Online:2023-10-18 Published:2022-12-02
  • Contact: Su Yunyu, Chief physician, Qinzhou First People’s Hospital, Qinzhou 535000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Wei Zongbo, Master candidate, Ruikang Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Guangxi Natural Science Foundation for the Youth, No. 2020GXNSFBA159053 (to ZXY); Huang Yourong TCM Master Training Project, No. [2022]6; Guangxi Key Clinical Specialty (Trauma Surgery) Construction Project, No. {2021}17

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The important role of subchondral bone adjacent to the cartilage layer in the knee osteoarthritis progression has been widely recognized and the factors interfering with subchondral bone homeostasis are gradually becoming a research hotspot. Current studies have revealed that long-stranded non-coding RNAs have highlighted certain advantages and values in regulating bone homeostasis.  
OBJECTIVE: To understand the working mechanism of long non-coding RNAs in the subchondral bone homeostasis, thereby providing evidence for exploring new prevention and treatment methods for knee osteoarthritis.
METHODS: CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched with the search terms of “Long non-coding RNA, Knee osteoarthritis, Subchondral bone, Osteoblasts, Osteoclasts, Mesenchymal stem cells, Signal pathway” in Chinese and English. Literature retrieval time was from inception to July 2022, and a total of 65 articles were included in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Subchondral bone homeostasis is closely related to the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and peripheral cytokines, and angiogenesis. (2) Long non-coding RNAs can modulate various factors affecting subchondral bone homeostasis, mainly through the Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β/BMPs/Smad, PI3K/AKT, and SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathways, which thereby promote or inhibit bone formation by modulating the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. It can also modulate cytokines and inhibit angiogenesis. These findings provide a theoretical basis for balancing subchondral bone homeostasis and a potential target site for the prevention and treatment of subchondral osteosclerosis in knee osteoarthritis. (3) Long non-coding RNAs are important for modulating bone formation, bone resorption, and angiogenesis. How this type of RNAs can play a role in modulating the abnormal subchondral bone in knee osteoarthritis will be a key research focus in the future. (4) Given that it is difficult to collect samples of normal human subchondral bone, there is no report on the long non-coding RNAs in normal human subchondral bone. There is still a lack of clinical studies on the direct effects of long non-coding RNAs on subchondral bone and the mechanisms of their effects on modulating subchondral bone homeostasis are not fully understood. These remain to be studied in greater depth in the future. (5) This review can preliminarily reveal the mechanism of long non-coding RNAs on subchondral bone homeostasis and summarize the relevant potential targets, which are expected to promote long non-coding RNA as a biomarker and therapeutic target for the regulation of subchondral bone in the future, thus providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Key words: long non-coding RNA, knee osteoarthritis, subchondral bone, osteoblast, osteoclast, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell, signal pathway

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