Cartilage and bone regulation by microRNAs

Speaker

Young, David (Newcastle University)

Description

"MicroRNAs, short non-coding RNAs, are important regulators of skeletal development. Several individual microRNAs have been shown to alter long bone growth with most interest focused on the cartilage ‘specific’ microRNA, miR-140. We made a new miR-140-null mouse and confirmed the skeletal phenotype, identifying a range of target genes that the microRNA controls. The null mice also have increased joint damage during surgically-induced osteoarthritis and cartilage transcriptome analysis has revealed novel pathways in which the microRNA functions during joint destruction.
Less is known about microRNAs and bone development, though serum microRNAs are biomarkers for osteoporosis. We identified a little studies microRNA that appears important in bone ageing. Mice null for this microRNA develop bone thickening with age, with increased cortical and trabecular bone thickening. In the talk I will discuss how this one microRNA fine tunes osteoblast, osteoclast and osteocyte transcriptomes and thus function to regulate bone formation and turnover."

62903402364

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