LncRNA urothelial cancer associated 1 promotes the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells by regulating the miR-96–5p/Osx axis

To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), its effect on osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs and its mechanism. The expression of osteogenic genes Osx, Runx2, Ocn and Opn was explored by qPCR. Protein expression in hPDLSCs was estimated by Western blot. The osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs was detected by Alizarin red staining assays. The interaction between UCA1 and miR-96–5p was explored by RNA pulldown assay and dual luciferase assay. The interaction between miR-96–5p and Osx 3′-UTR was measured by dual luciferase assay. The expression of UCA1 and miR-96–5p was negatively correlated in hPDLSCs. During the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs, the expression of UCA1 was increased, while the expression of miR-96–5p was decreased. Knockdown of UCA1 in hPDLSCs inhibited osteogenic differentiation but induced upregulation of miR-96–5p expression, and vice versa. In addition, miR-96–5p partially reversed the positive effect of UCA1 on osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs. Notably, UCA1 was identified as a miR-96–5p sponge, and miR-96–5p targeted Osx. Our results demonstrated that the novel UCA1/miR-96–5p/Osx pathway regulates osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs and sheds new insights and targets for periodontitis therapeutics.