Functional mechanism of miR-92b-3p in osteogenic differentiation of fibroblasts in patients with ankylosing spondylitis via the TOB1/BMP/Smad pathway

BACKGROUND: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis. Upregulation of microRNA (miR)-92b-3p is associated with enhanced osteoblastic differentiation. The current study sought to investigate the functional mechanism of miR-92b-3p in osteogenic differentiation of AS fibroblasts. METHODS: First, fibroblasts were isolated from AS and non-AS patients and cultured. Next, cell morphology was observed, cell proliferation was assessed and the vimentin expression pattern was determined. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and levels of osteogenic markers RUNX2, OPN, OSX, and COL I were additionally measured, followed by determination of miR-92b-3p and TOB1 levels. The binding site of miR-92b-3p and TOB1 was predicted, and their target relationship was validated. Lastly, miR-92b-3p inhibitor, si-TOB1, and the BMP/Smad signaling pathway inhibitor LDN193189 were delivered into AS fibroblasts to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of AS fibroblasts and the activation of the BMP/Smad pathway. RESULTS: miR-92b-3p was highly expressed in AS fibroblasts. AS fibroblasts showed enhanced osteogenic differentiation and proliferation, while inhibition of miR-92b-3p suppressed osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of AS fibroblasts. miR-92b-3p targeted TOB1, and TOB1 was poorly expressed in AS fibroblasts. The concurrent downregulation of TOB1 and inhibition of miR-92b-3p elevated the levels of RUNX2, OPN, OSX, and COL I and ALP activity and further enhanced the proliferation of AS fibroblasts. The BMP/Smad pathway was activated in AS fibroblasts. Silencing miR-92b-3p could inhibit the activation of the BMP/Smad pathway by upregulating TOB1. Inhibition of the BMP/Smad pathway reduced the number of calcified nodules and hindered the osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of AS fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlighted that silencing miR-92b-3p inhibited the osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of AS fibroblasts by upregulation of TOB1 and inhibition of the BMP/Smad pathway. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-023-03850-1.