MiR-124-3p Reduces Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Rats Through Regulating Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Pathway

Abstract

We aimed to study the effect of miR-124-3p on postmenopausal osteoporosis (POP) rats through regulating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. Rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and miR-124-3p antagomir group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). BMD of femur was significantly lower in model group and miR-124-3p antagomir group than that in normal group at 12 weeks after modeling, while it was significantly higher in miR-124-3p antagomir group than that in model group. Positive expression of BMP2 was obviously higher in miR-124-3p antagomir group than that in model group. Protein expression of p-STAT3 was evidently lower in miR-124-3p antagomir group than that in model group. Besides, POP rats have significantly increased level of miR-124-3p compared with that in normal group. In model group and miR-124-3p antagomir group, the content of OPG was remarkably lower, and the content of RANK was remarkably higher than those in normal group. In miR-124-3p antagomir group, the content of OPG was remarkably higher, and RANK was remarkably lower than those in model group. MiR-124-3p reduces BMD in POP rats through up-regulating the STAT3 pathway.