Investigation on functional genome research may contribute to the knowledge of
functional roles of different mRNAs and miRNAs in bone cells of osteoporotic animals.
Currently, few studies indicate the changes in gene modulation that osteoporosis causes
in osteoblastic cells from different sites. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to
evaluate cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity and modulation of
mRNAs/miRNAs in osteoblastic cells from calvaria and bone marrow by means of
microarray technology. Wistar female rats were divided in sham operated and
ovariectomized groups. After 150 days of ovariectomy, cells were isolated from both
sites to perform cell culture. Results showed that calvaria cells from ovariectomized rats
had a decrease in viability when compared to control groups and to bone marrow cells
from osteoporotic rats after 3 days. Alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in calvaria
cells from ovariectomized rats whereas it was increased in bone marrow osteoblastic
cells in the same group. Microarray data analysis showed 5447 differentially expressed
mRNAs and 82 differentially expressed miRNAs in calvaria cells. The same way, 4399
mRNAs and 54 miRNAs were expressed in bone marrow cells. mRNAs associated to
bone metabolism such as Anxa5, Sp7, Spp1, Notch1 were distinctively modulated in
both sites, as well as miRNAs such as miR-350, miR-542-3p, miR-204-5p and miR-30e-
3p. The RNA species identified in this study could be further used as targets for
treatment or prevention of osteoporosis.