Rationale: Postmenopausal-induced bone loss is mainly caused by declining core transcription factors (TFs) of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), but little is known about how miRNAs regulate chromatin structure remodeling of TFs gene to maintain BMSCs function in bone homeostasis.

Methods: We examined the serum, salivary and bone samples from Pre-and Post-menopause women by paired analysis and confirmed canonical ceRNA role of MIR143HG and miR-143/145 complexes in cytoplasm and noncanonical role for SOX2 transcription in nucleus (FISH, qRT-PCR, immunostaining, Luciferase assays and ChIP). Moreover, we took advantage of transgenic mice under OVX-induced osteoporosis, studying the in vitro and in vivo effect of miR-143/145 deletion on BMSCs function and bone homeostasis. Last, using miRNA antagonism, antagomiR-143/145 were delivered into bone marrow to treat estrogen-deficient bone loss.

Results: Here, we identified miR-143/145 as potential diagnostic candidates for postmenopausal osteoporosis, and miR-143/145 overexpression impaired BMSCs self-renewing and differentiation function. Mechanistically, we confirmed that cytoplasmic miR-143/145 and LncRNA MIR143HG, that controlled by ERβ, cooperatively regulated pluripotency genes translation via canonical ceRNA pathway, and MIR143HG cooperates with miR‑143 to nuclear translocation for co-activation of SOX2 transcription via opening promoter chromatin. Meanwhile, miR‑143/145 were shuttled into osteoclasts in extracellular vesicles and triggered osteoclastic activity by targeting Cd226 and Srgap2. Furthermore, miR-143/145-/-mice or using chemically‑modified antagomiR-143/145 significantly alleviated estrogen-deficient osteoporosis.

Conclusions: Our findings reveal a canonical and noncanonical role of miR-143/145 in controlling BMSCs pluripotency and unfold their dual effect on bone formation and bone resorption, suggesting miR-143/145 as promising therapeutic targets for treating estrogen-deficient bone loss.