LncRNA MALAT1 promotes tenogenic differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells via regulating the miR-378a-3p/MAPK1 axis

Tendinopathy is a type of chronic injury caused by repeated pulling. Previous studies have reported that long non-coding RNA MALAT1 (MALAT1) regulates a variety of genes affecting bone metabolism. This study aimed to explore the role of the MALAT1 in tendon injury in vivo and in vitro. Human tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) were treated with TGF β1. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish the tendinopathy animal model. Sirius Red staining and colorimetric assays were conducted to analyze the collagen content. RT-qPCR was performed to measure the mRNA levels. Western blotting was performed to measure the MAPK1 protein levels. Additionally, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical staining were used to analyze the cell number and the content of collagen type 1 and Thbs, respectively. MALAT1 expression was upregulated in TGF β1 treated TDSCs, and MALAT1 knockdown downregulated Scleraxis, Mohawk homeobox, Collagen 1A1, Fibromodulin, Matrix metallopeptidase 3, and Thrombospondin 4 in TGF β1 treated TDSCs. Bioinformatics analysis showed that miR-378a-3p was the target of MALAT1 and MAPK1, and dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that both MALAT1 and MAPK1 could bind to miR-378a-3p. Furthermore, miR-378a-3p knockdown reversed the effect of si-MALAT1, whereas overexpression of MAPK1 reversed the effect of the miR-378a-3p mimic. Finally, MALAT1 expression was downregulated in tendinopathy rats, and MALAT1 overexpression healed tendon injury in them. MALAT1 regulated the tenogenic differentiation of TDSCs by regulating the miR-378a-3p/MAPK1 axis. Our results therefore indicate that targeting the MALAT1/miR-378a-3p/MAPK1 axis may be a promising avenue for the treatment of tendinopathy.