Using bioinformatics to predict potential targets of microrna-144 in osteoarthritis

Abstract

    MicroRNAs are short endogenous non-coding RNA molecules, typically 19-25 nucleotides in length, whichnegatively regulate gene expression through binding to 3'UTR of target mRNAs, leading to repression of proteintranslation or target mRNA degradation. MicroRNA-144 (miR-144) was found as an abnormal expression in variousdiseases, including osteoarthritis (OA). We have identified increased microRNA-144 expression in early phase andend stage of OA. However, the molecular mechanism of this increase has not been yet to be determined yet. Usingbioinformatics tools, we found more than 4,000 mRNAs that are predicted to be potential direct targets of miR-144,including mRNAs involved in the critical signaling pathways in OA e.g. TGFβ/Smad2/3 and WNT/β-catenin.Results from this research provide information for future ex periments to validate miR-144 potential targets.