Identification of microRNA-181a-5p and microRNA-4454 as mediators of facet cartilage degeneration

• DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.86820
• Publication Date: 2016-08-03T15:00:34Z
• Authors: Akihiro Nakamura; Y. Raja Rampersaud; Anirudh Sharma; Stephen J. Lewis; Brian Wu; Poulami Datta; Kala Sundararajan; Helal Endisha; Evgeny Rossomacha; Jason S. Rockel; Igor Jurisica; Mohit Kapoor
• Keywords: Degeneration (medical); Facet (psychology)

Osteoarthritis (OA) of spine (facet joints [FJs]) is one the major causes severe low back pain and disability worldwide. The degeneration facet cartilage a hallmark FJ OA. However, endogenous mechanisms that initiate are unknown, there no disease-modifying therapies to stop In this study, we have identified microRNAs (small noncoding RNAs) as mediators degeneration. We first established cohort patients with varying degrees (control group: normal or mild degeneration; OA moderate degeneration) then screened 2,100 miRNAs 2 (miR-181a-5p miR-4454) were significantly elevated in compared control cartilage. further explored their role, function, signaling using computational, vitro functional, vivo studies. specifically indicate miR-181a-5p miR-4454 involved promoting inflammatory, catabolic, cell death activity chondrocytes. This report our knowledge identifies FJs potential therapeutic targets for stopping