Functional Interactions of CASC20 in Heterotopic Ossification

Description

In this presentation, Favour Felix-Ilemhenbhio discusses the role of CASC20, a long non-coding RNA, in the context of abnormal bone formation, specifically heterotopic ossification (HO). Despite the high incidence of outbreaks, current treatments are proving to be largely ineffective or carry significant side effects. The research highlights that CASC20 is strongly associated with HO susceptibility after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and is upregulated during the osteoblast differentiation process of both adipose-derived and bone marrow-derived stem cells in vitro.



The research hypothesis posits that CASC20 functions as a novel regulator of bone formation, focusing on predicting and characterizing microRNA targets involved in this process. Using miRanda for predictive analysis, 64 interactive microRNAs were identified, with further expression studies revealing 42 microRNAs associated with osteogenesis and 21 with chondrogenesis datasets, indicating potential shared regulatory mechanisms.



Experimental data show that overexpressing CASC20 in vitro leads to increased mineral deposits, thereby supporting its role in osteogenesis. However, examining specific microRNAs showed notable downregulation trends, particularly of miR-485-3p during osteoclast differentiation in a CASC20 overexpression context. Ongoing evaluations aim to clarify these findings, potentially utilizing CRISPR for deeper exploration of CASC20's inhibitory role. The session concludes with a Q&A, addressing methods for studying CASC20's function and challenges faced in RNA manipulation.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221097

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