Synovial Fluid Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Microrna-127 Can Modulate Transforming Growth Factor-Β Signaling After in Vitro Chondrogenic Induction

Abstract

MicroRNA profiling in human cartilage is necessary for chondrogenesis. The study aimed to compare microRNA 127-5p (miR-127-5p) and TGF-beta signaling pathway gene expressions of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAT-MSCs) and synovial fluid-derived stem cells (hSF-MSCs) after induced chondrogenesis. MSCs induced into chondrogenic differentiation. Alcian Blue and Safranin O staining were performed to determine chondrogenic differentiation. The RT-qPCR determined the expression levels of miR-127-5p and TGF-beta signaling pathway genes. miR-127-5p expression was significantly higher in chondrogenic differentiated hSF-MSCs (dhSF-MSCs) (p < 0.05). TGF-beta, SMAD2, and SMAD3 expressions were substantially higher in dhSF-MSCs (all p < 0.001), while SMAD4, and ACAN expressions were downregulated (all p < 0.001). No difference was detected between COL1A2 expression levels. This study suggests that miR-127-5p derived from hSF-MSCs may regulate chondrogenesis, thereby inducing the TGF-beta pathway activation, and also presents, for the first time, a comparative analysis of the expression of miR-127-5p and the TGF-beta signaling pathway genes of hSF-MSCs and hAT-MSCs concerning differences in chondrogenic potential. {GRAPHICS].