miR-708-5p accelerates migration of human mesenchymal stem cells by repressing TMEM88 expression

AIM: To investigate the effect of microRNA-708-5p(miR-708-5p) on the migration of human mesenchymal stem cells(hMSCs). METHODS: The expression of miR-708-5p was determined by miRNA arrays and real-time PCR. By transfection of miR-708-5p mimic or inhibitor, the up-regulation or down-regulation of miR-708-5p expression in hMSCs was evaluated. The cell scratch and Transwell tests were used to detect the migration capability of hMSCs. The effects of transmembrane protein 88(TMEM88), a miR-708-5p target gene, on β-catenin expression and migration of hMSCs were detected. RESULTS: The expression of miR-708-5p was down-regulated in the old hMSCs compared with the young hMSCs. Up-regulation of miR-708-5p resulted in increasing migration of hMSCs. Conversely, down-regulation of miR-708-5p resulted in decreasing cell migration. The expression of TMEM88 was up-regulated in the old hMSCs compared with the young hMSCs, while the expression of β-catenin was down-regulated. Directly repression of TMEM88 expression increased the β-catenin expression and migration of hMSCs. The regulation of miR-708-5p on hMSCs was attenuated by inhibiting the expression of miR-708-5p and TMEM88 together. CONCLUSION: miR-708-5p increases β-catenin expression and Wnt/β-catenin activity by repressing TMEM88, thus enhancing the migration of hMSCs.