miR-216a-3p inhibits osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells via Wnt3a in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

The current study aimed to investigate the potential function and mechanism of microRNA (miR)-216a-3p in the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). Dynamic expression changes of miR-216a-3p in the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Regulatory effects of miR-216a-3p on the relative levels of osteogenesis-associated genes were also detected by RT-qPCR and western blotting. The relationship between miR-216a-3p and Wnt3a was verified through a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, the influence of miR-216a-3p on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway during the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs was investigated by western blotting. The results revealed that during the osteogenic differentiation process of hADSCs, miR-216a-3p was downregulated and Wnt3a was upregulated. It was further verified that Wnt3a was the target of miR-216a-3p. Through inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, miR-216a-3p was able to mediate osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs. In conclusion, by targeting Wnt3a, miR-216a-3p mediated the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs, which negatively regulated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.