miR-30a-5p inhibits osteogenesis and promotes periodontitis by targeting Runx2

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is the most extensive chronic inflammatory bone resorption disease. MiRNAs offer a potential way for potential therapy. Indeed, miR-30a-5p had an increasing expression in periodontitis gingivae, but whether it promotes osteogenesis and inhibits inflammation remains unknown. METHODS: Periodontitis model was exhibited by wire ligation and verified by micro-CT and HE staining; qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-30a-5p; miR-30a-5p inhibitors and mimics were transfected into MC3T3-E1 cell line by lipofectamine 3000; The dual luciferase reporter gene experiment and RIP experiment were used to detect the relationship between miR-30a-5p and Runx2; Rescue experiment was used to verify the relationship between miR-30a-5p and Runx2. RESULTS: Periodontitis model was exhibited successfully and miR-30a-5p was overexpressed at the bone and gingival tissues of this model. miR-30a-5p inhibitors not only promoted the osteogenesis but also relieved inflammation. Runx2 is a target of miR-30a-5p by dual luciferase reporter gene experiment and RIP experiment. Rescue experiments revealed that miR-30a-5p inhibitors would promote osteogenesis and relieve inflammation by targeting Runx2 in inflammation of MC3T3-E1 cell line. CONCLUSIONS: That all suggested that miR-30a-5p-mediated-Runx2 provided a novel understanding of mechanism of periodontitis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-021-01882-9.