miR-135a-5p affects adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cellsby promoting the Hippo signaling pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been extensively studied and play a regulatory role during adipogenesis. Specifically, many miRNAs participate in regulation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation into adipogenic and osteogenic lineages. However, the regulatory mechanisms of miR-135a-5p in the Hippo signaling pathway during adipogenesis need to be explored. In this study, we observed that miR-135a-5p promotes adipogenesis of human adipose-derived MSCs (hADMSCs). miR-135a-5p was overexpressed in adipocytes compared to hADMSCs and further upregulation of miR-135a-5p promoted proliferation and adipogenesis of hADMSCs. In contrast, miR-135a-5p reduction inhibited these processes. Luciferase activity detection and Western blotting confirmed that overexpressed miR-135a-5p had the ability to upregulate the HIPPO signaling pathway. Subsequently, we observed that miR-135a-5p is targeted to key negative regulators in the HIPPO signaling pathway, including MOB kinase activator 1B (MOB1B) and large tumor suppressor 1 (LATS1). Moreover, suppression of LATS1 and MOB1B upregulated the activity of TEAD. In conclusion, we have verified that miR-135a-5p plays an active role in adipogenesis by targeting LATS1 and MOB1B expression, thereby enhancing the HIPPO signaling pathway.