2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (9): 1441-1447

Targeting of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of the osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Pan Zhongjie1, Qin Zhihong1, Zheng Tiejun2, Ding Xiaofei1, Liao Shijie1   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: At present, non-coding RNAs have been proven to play an important role in a variety of orthopedic disease. Therefore, non-coding RNAs may bring new ideas for understanding the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of this disease.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the methods and ideas of early diagnosis and treatment of the femoral head necrosis, review the research progress on non-coding RNAs in the femoral head necrosis, and put forward the existing problems and solutions.
METHODS: The keywords of “osteonecrosis of the femoral head, non-coding RNAs, miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA” were used to search articles published between January 2000 and November 2021 on CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, and Medline databases. Finally, 67 articles were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The types of non-coding RNAs are very rich, accounting for about 98% of all transcription products and 90% of the functions of all RNAs. According to their functions, they can be divided into housekeeping non-coding RNAs, such as tRNA, rRNA, and snoRNA and regulatory non-coding RNAs, such as miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA, and siRNA. (2) At present, the research on miRNAs and steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head is the most popular focus, while the related studies on exosomal lncRNAs and circRNAs and necrosis of the femoral head have not been reported. (3) The expression of most non-coding RNAs is down-regulated in the occurrence of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and most non-coding RNAs promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and the generation of osteogenic markers by negatively regulating their related target genes, can also promote the formation of vascular endothelial cells and inhibit the occurrence and progression of avascular necrosis of femoral head. (4) Non-coding RNAs carried by exosomes can also play a role in the femoral head necrosis, but there is little literature at present, and the difference between non-coding RNAs carried by exosomes is not clear at present, which can be gradually improved in future studies. (5) The use of non-coding RNAs analogues and inhibitors can effectively inhibit the occurrence and development of non-traumatic femoral head necrosis, which can provide a new strategy for the early diagnosis and treatment of non-traumatic femoral head necrosis.
Key words: exosomes, femoral head necrosis, non-coding RNA, miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA, osteonecrosis, femoral head, glucocorticoid, review