MiR-214 regulates fracture healing through inhibiting Sox4 and its mechanism.

Objective: To investigate the expression of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-214 in the bone tissue and blood of patients with fragility fracture.

Methods: The expression of miR-214 was detected via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The effect of miR-214 on proliferation and apoptosis of osteoblasts were detected via methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining.

Results: The expression of miR-214 in the bone tissue and blood of patients with fragility fracture significantly declined. miR-214 could promote the proliferation of osteoblasts and inhibited the apoptosis of osteoblasts. miR-214 is involved in fracture healing through inhibiting Sox4 and promoting phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT pathway. The expression of BSP in cells treated with miR-214 mimics was significantly increased to 2.5-fold (p=0.0168), while the expression of BSP in cells treated with miR-214 AMO was significantly decreased, reduced to 0.3 times (p=0.0397). The expression of BMP2 in cells treated with miR-214 mimics was significantly increased to 2.5-fold (p=0.003), while the expression of BMP2 was significantly decreased in cells treated with miR-214 AMO, reduced to 0.3 times (p=0.0002). miR-214 can regulate the expression of Sox2, PI3K and AKT proteins.

Conclusion: MiR-214 regulates the proliferation, apoptosis, bone formation of osteoblasts and participate in the fracture healing process by inhibiting the expression of Sox4, which provided new ideas for clinical treatment of fracture healing.