Long Noncoding RNA DANCR Is a Positive Regulator of Proliferation and Chondrogenic Differentiation in Human Synovium-Derived Stem Cells

Cartilage tissues have limited capacity for repair after damage and then cause osteoarthritis, so finding alternative treatment is ongoing. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising therapy for cartilage damage and diseases due to the advantages of easy separation, high proliferative potentiality, and genetic stability. Synovium-derived MSCs (SMSCs) have been recognized as an ideal source for cartilage repair. In our previous study, we found that Sox4 promoted proliferation and chondrogenesis of SMSCs through upregulation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) DANCR. However, the exact molecular mechanism by which DANCR promotes proliferation and chondrogenesis of SMSCs remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effect of lncRNA DANCR on the proliferation and chondrogenesis of SMSCs. We found that overexpression of DANCR could promote proliferation and chondrogenesis of SMSCs, while knockdown of DANCR had the opposite effect. Moreover, our data demonstrated that DANCR directly interact...