MicroRNA-29a Counteracts Glucocorticoid Induction of Bone Loss through Repressing TNFSF13b Modulation of Osteoclastogenesis

Glucocorticoid excess escalates osteoclastic resorption, accelerating bone mass loss and microarchitecture damage, which ramps up osteoporosis development. MicroRNA-29a (miR-29a) regulates osteoblast and chondrocyte function; however, the action of miR-29a to osteoclastic activity in the glucocorticoid-induced osteoporotic bone remains elusive. In this study, we showed that transgenic mice overexpressing an miR-29a precursor driven by phosphoglycerate kinase exhibited a minor response to glucocorticoid-mediated bone mineral density loss, cortical bone porosity and overproduction of serum resorption markers C-teleopeptide of type I collagen and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b levels. miR-29a overexpression compromised trabecular bone erosion and excessive osteoclast number histopathology in glucocorticoid-treated skeletal tissue. Ex vivo, the glucocorticoid-provoked osteoblast formation and osteoclastogenic markers (NFATc1, MMP9, V-ATPase, carbonic anhydrase II and cathepsin K) along with F-actin ring development and pit formation of primary bone-marrow macrophages were downregulated in miR-29a transgenic mice. Mechanistically, tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 13b (TNFSF13b) participated in the glucocorticoid-induced osteoclast formation. miR-29a decreased the suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) enrichment in the TNFSF13b promoter and downregulated the cytokine production. In vitro, forced miR-29a expression and SOCS2 knockdown attenuated the glucocorticoid-induced TNFSF13b expression in osteoblasts. miR-29a wards off glucocorticoid-mediated excessive bone resorption by repressing the TNFSF13b modulation of osteoclastic activity. This study sheds new light onto the immune-regulatory actions of miR-29a protection against glucocorticoid-mediated osteoporosis.