Silencing of lncRNA Promotes Osteoblast Differentiation and Bone Formation via β-Catenin/TCF1/Runx2 Signaling Axis.

Osteoporosis, a disease characterized by both loss of bone mass and structural deterioration of bone, is the most common reason for a broken bone among the elderly. It is known that the attenuated differentiation ability of osteogenic cells has been regarded as one of the greatest contributors to age-related bone formation reduction. However, the effects of current therapies are still unsatisfactory. In this study we identify a novel long noncoding RNA which is correlated with osteogenic differentiation and enriched in skeletal tissues of mice. In vitro analysis of bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) showed that inhibited osteoblast differentiation. In vivo inhibition of by its small interfering RNA rescued bone formation in ovariectomized osteoporosis mice model. Mechanistically, inhibited the nuclear translocation of β-catenin and downregulated the expression of TCF1, LEF1, and Runx2. The results suggest that Lnc- suppresses β-catenin/TCF1/Runx2 signaling and inhibits osteoblast differentiation and bone formation, providing a novel mechanism of osteogenic differentiation and a potential drug target for osteoporosis.