Abstract
As is previously reported, mesenchymal stem cells have potential ability to differentiate into osteocytes. However, the underlying mechanism during this biological process is poorly understood. In the present study, we identify a novel long non-coding RNA named HOXA-AS2 as a critical regulator during the formation of osteogenesis. Attenuation of HOXA-AS2 can reduce the calcium deposition and repress the alkaline phosphatase activity. Moreover, the expressions of osteogenic marker genes are markedly downregulated after HOXA-AS2 depletion. Mechanistically, we found HOXA-AS2 can regulate the transcriptional activity of NF-κB, a critical inhibitor of osteogenesis. More importantly, HOXA-AS2 knockdown could result in the transcriptional repression of the osteogenic master transcription factor SP7 by a NF-κB/HDAC2-coordinated H3K27 deacetylation mechanism. Based on these studies, we conclude that HOXA-AS2 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for bone tissue repair and regeneration in the near future.