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. 2025 May 13;20(1):456.
doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-05872-3.

Dysregulation of miR-106a-5p/PTEN axis associated with progression and diagnostic of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Xiangjie Liu #  1 , Xiaogang Zhang #  2 , Meini Cen  3   4
Affiliations

Dysregulation of miR-106a-5p/PTEN axis associated with progression and diagnostic of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Xiangjie Liu et al. J Orthop Surg Res. .

Abstract

Objective: Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a bone disorder in postmenopausal women and a significant risk factor for fragility fractures. This study aims to explore the role of miR-106a-5p in the pathogenesis of PMOP and its potential as a diagnostic biomarker.

Methods: 220 postmenopausal women were recruited. The levels of miR-106a-5p, PTEN, and osteogenic-related genes were quantified using qRT-PCR. The relative protein of PTEN was detected using Western blotting. ROC curve and Pearson correlation were employed to evaluate the diagnostic value and relationships between variables. To model iron accumulation, hFOB1.19 osteoblasts were treated with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using the CCK-8 and flow cytometry. The target relationship was verified using dual-luciferase assays.

Results: miR-106a-5p levels were reduced, while PTEN levels were increased in PMOP. miR-106a-5p was positively correlated with bone mineral density and negatively correlated with ferritin. In the FAC-treated cells, miR-106a-5p decreased, and PTEN increased. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that miR-106a-5p targets PTEN. Successful transfection was confirmed by observing the corresponding changes in miR-106a-5p and PTEN expression. Up-regulated miR-106a-5p increased the PTEN protein level, mRNA expression of RUNX2, OPN, and OCN, promoted cell proliferation, and decreased cell apoptosis under iron accumulation conditions. These effects were reversed by the upregulation of PTEN.

Conclusion: miR-106a-5p has the potential to diagnose osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and is linked to ferritin levels. miR-106a-5p plays a protective role in PMOP by regulating PTEN under conditions of iron accumulation, suggesting its potential as a promising biomarker for PMOP.

Keywords: Iron accumulation; PTEN; Postmenopausal osteoporosis; miR-106a-5p.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All volunteers were able to independently provide consent and signed informed consent forms. Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College. The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Conflict of interest: No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Expression levels and diagnostic value of miR-106a-5p. (A) Expression levels of miR-106a-5p in control (n = 112) and PMOP (n = 108) groups. (B) Diagnostic value of miR-106a-5p as assessed by ROC curve. (C) Abundance of miR-106a-5p in FAC-treated hFOB1.19 cells (n = 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. Control. FAC, ferric ammonium citrate; PMOP, postmenopausal osteoporosis; ROC, receiver operating characteristic
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
miR-106a-5p directly targeted PTEN. (A) Predicted binding sites between miR-106a-5p and PTEN. (B) Dual-luciferase assay verified the target relationship (n = 3). (C) Expression levels of PTEN in control (n = 112) and PMOP (n = 108) groups. (D) Expression levels of PTEN in FAC-treated hFOB1.19 cells (n = 3). (E) The Pearson correlation analysis between miR-106a-5p and PTEN (n = 108). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. Control. FAC, ferric ammonium citrate; PMOP, postmenopausal osteoporosis
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
miR-106a-5p enhanced osteogenic-related gene expression and cell proliferation by targeting PTEN (n = 3). (A) Transfection efficiency of miR-mimic and oe-PTEN. (B, C) The levels of osteogenic-related genes (B) and cell proliferation (C) following transfection under FAC treatment. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. Control. FAC, ferric ammonium citrate
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