Abstract
This study investigates the correlation between circulating hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-133a-3p, hsa-miR-182-5p, and bone density levels in human plasma. A total of 120 subjects with normal bone mass, osteopenia, and osteoporosis were recruited. RT-PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-133a-3p, hsa-miR-182-5p in the plasma of the patients, and the correlation analysis was performed combined with physical examination data. Analyze the potential effects of hsa-miR-21-5p and hsa-miR-133a-3p on bone metabolism using bioinformatics tools. Compared with the normal group, the expression of plasma hsa-miR-21-5p was significantly down-regulated (P < .05) and hsa-miR-133a-3p was significantly up-regulated in patients with abnormal bone mass (P < .05). The expression of hsa-miR-182-5p was not substantially different from that of the osteoporosis group. Further, one-factor analysis showed that hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-133a-3p, age, and BMI were the influencing factors of primary osteoporosis (P < .05) and osteopenia was negatively correlated with the expression level of hsa-miR-21-5p and BMI (P < .05). We found through bioinformatics analysis that the Hub genes of hsa-miR-21-5p and hsa-miR-133a-3p are associated with bone homeostasis imbalance. Hsa-miR-21-5p and hsa-miR-133a-3p are significantly changed in the plasma of primary osteoporosis and osteopenia patients. The relative expression levels of miRNA21 and miRNA133a are correlated with bone mineral density levels. A large sample size study is required to validate its potential value as a clinical indicator.