Specific microRNAs are associated with fracture healing phases, patient age and multi-trauma

Background: Immediately after a fracture occurs, a fracture hematoma (fxH) is formed. This fxH plays an important role in fracture healing and, under normal circumstances, aids in generating an environment in which a wide variety of cells orchestrate processes involved in fracture healing. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may influence these processes. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the miRNA expression signature of human fxH in normal fracture healing and examine the potential influence of clinical parameters on these expression levels.

Methods: fxH was harvested from 61 patients (mean age 52 ± 19; 32♀ ) during fracture surgery. miRNAs were isolated, transcribed and pooled for qPCR array analysis and validation. Qiagen fibrosis- and inflammation qPCR arrays were used based on an extensive literature study related to fracture healing and osteogenesis. Additionally, miRNA targets were determined.

Results: From the array data, a selection of the twenty most regulated miRNAs, 10 up- and 10 down regulated, was validated in the study population. The expression levels of seven out of these twenty miRNAs were correlated to several clinical parameters. The time interval between trauma and surgery showed to influence the expression of three miRNAs, three other miRNAs were expressed in a patient age dependent manner and one miRNA was associated with the severity of trauma.

Conclusion: This study portrayed the role and importance of miRNAs in human fxH, linked to key processes in fracture healing. Seven miRNAs showed to be involved in multiple processes that are important in the fracture healing cascade, such as angiogenesis, mineralisation and cellular differentiation. In silico target analysis revealed 260 mRNA targets for 14 out of the 20 validated miRNAs.

The Translational Potential of this Article: These data broaden our view on the potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications of miRNAs in fracture healing.