LINE-1 retrotransposons are reduced in bone of osteoporotic patients, correlate positively to BMD, and stimulate bone anabolism in transfected mesenchymal stem cells

To investigate the role of LINE-1 in bone regeneration, we delivered synthetic L1 RNA to mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), from osteoporotic patients, induced to osteogenic differentiation. Overall design: First, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from femur of 4 osteoporotic patients (HUK9, HUK12, HUK16, HUK19) were isolated. MSC were then induced to osteogenic differentiation and transfected after 5 days with RFP mRNA (negative control) or L1 RNA. Samples were collected at day 6 (24h post-transfection) and day 10 (5 days post-transfection). Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for RFP mRNA and L1 RNA transfected cells was performed.