Mogroside V enhances bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells osteogenesis under hyperglycemic conditions through upregulating miR-10b-5p and PI3K/Akt signaling.

Background: Mogroside V (MV) is a triterpene glucoside that reportedly exhibits an array of antitumor, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic properties. In prior studies, our group determined that MV was able to readily enhance osteogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) differentiation under high-glucose conditions through mechanisms potentially associated with miR-10b-5p and PI3K/Akt signaling activity. The precise molecular basis for these effects, however, remains to be fully elucidated.

Objective: This study aims to explore the potential mechanisms by which MV regulates the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs under hyperglycemic conditions.

Methods: Femoral and tibial BMSCs were isolated from control and diabetic C57BL/6J mice. qRT-PCR was used to quantify miR-10b-5p levels. Putative miR-10b-5p target genes were predicted through bioinformatics assays and validated in a luciferase reporter assay system. miR-10b-5p expression was inhibited with an antagomiR-10b-5p construct, while PI3K/Akt pathway signaling was inhibited with LY294002. Western blotting was used to detect PI3K/Akt pathway and target gene protein levels, while Alizarin red staining was used to detect calcium nodule deposition by BMSCs.

Results: miR-10b-5p upregulation was noted in BMSCs exposed to hyperglycemic conditions. HOXD10 was identified as a cell differentiation-related miR-10b-5p target gene in bioinformatics analyses, and the targeting relationship between the two was confirmed in a luciferase reporter assay. MV treatment elicited significantly higher levels of miR-10b-5p expression, PI3K phosphorylation, and calcium deposition, while antagomiR-10b-5p or LY294002 treatment reversed these changes, and the opposite trends were observed with respect to HOXD10 protein levels.

Conclusion: MV favors BMSCs osteogenic differentiation under high-glucose conditions through the upregulation of miR-10b-5p and the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling.