Abstract: Abstract: Objective To examine the effect of miR-301b in the regulating the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into adipocytes. Methods Murine ST2 stromal cells were isolated, cultured and induced with adipogenic agents. The expression of miR-301b was detected by qRT-PCR in adipogenic differentiation group and control group. Stromal ST2 cells were transfected with miR-301b mimics followed by adipogenic treatment. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were conducted to detect the changes of adipocyte specific genes and protein expression levels in the miR-301b mimics transfection group and negative control (NC) transfection group. Results qRT-PCR showed that the expression of miR-301b was decreased after adipogenic treatment in ST2 cells. The relative expression level of miR-301b was less in the adipogenic differentiation group (0.219 ± 0.021) than that of the control group (1.000 ± 0.425, P＜0.05). The relative expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and adipocyte fatty acid binding proteins (aP2) were lower in the miR-301b mimics transfecting group than those in the NC transfecting group (P＜0.05). The protein levels of the marker gene aP2 and transcription factors PPARγ and C / EBPα decreased in miR-310b mimics transfecting group compared with those of the NC transfecting group (P＜0.05). Conclusion miR-301b can reduce adipocyte differentiation.

Key words: Key words: microRNAs, RNA interference, mesenchymal stem cells, miR-301b, adipogenesis