Yao Baojin, Zhang Mei, Liu Meichen, Wang Qun, Liu Meixin, Zhao Yu
1 Chinese Medicine and Bioengineering Research and Development Center, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine , Changchun, China .
2 Innovation Practice Center, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine , Changchun, China .
DNA Cell Biol. 2018 Jan;37(1):15-22. doi: 10.1089/dna.2017.3885. Epub 2017 Nov 29.
Deer antlers are amazing natural appendages that grow faster than any other known mammalian bone. Antler growth occurs at the tip and is initially cartilage, which is later replaced by bone tissue. However, little is known regarding the precise role of cooperation between cell lineages and functional genes in regulating antler growth, and molecular mechanisms responsible for rapid growth remain elusive. In this study, we use an RNA-Seq approach to elucidate the full spectrum of cell lineages, functional genes, and their cooperative interactions during antler growth. We identify Sox9 as a pivotal transcription factor during chondrogenesis and skeletal development expressed in the chondrocyte lineage from the multipotent mesenchymal precursor stage through most subsequent cell differentiation stages with a particularly strong activity in proliferating and prehypertrophic chondrocytes. Furthermore, we analyze the miRNA expression patterns at initial growth stage and rapid growth stage and identify several miRNAs that involve in regulating antler chondrogenesis and rapid growth. Among these miRNAs, miR-140 plays pivotal role during antler growth by targeting Sox9 and vice versa.
鹿茸是令人惊叹的天然附属物,其生长速度比任何已知的哺乳动物骨骼都要快。鹿茸的生长发生在顶端,最初是软骨,随后被骨组织取代。然而,关于细胞谱系与功能基因之间的合作在调节鹿茸生长中的确切作用,人们了解甚少,而且导致快速生长的分子机制仍然难以捉摸。在本研究中,我们采用RNA测序方法来阐明鹿茸生长过程中细胞谱系、功能基因及其合作相互作用的全貌。我们确定Sox9是软骨形成和骨骼发育过程中的关键转录因子,它在多能间充质前体细胞阶段至随后的大多数细胞分化阶段的软骨细胞谱系中表达,在增殖和前肥大软骨细胞中具有特别强的活性。此外,我们分析了初始生长阶段和快速生长阶段的miRNA表达模式,并鉴定出几种参与调节鹿茸软骨形成和快速生长的miRNA。在这些miRNA中,miR-140通过靶向Sox9在鹿茸生长过程中发挥关键作用,反之亦然。