Effects of microRNA-146a on the proliferation and apoptosis of human osteochondrocytes by targeting TRAF6 through the NF- κB signalling pathway.

MicroRNAs are important cellular mediators of mRNA degradation and translation repression, which in turn can have an impact on various processes and, if their function is perturbed, can cause disease. Here, we summarize the recent manuscript by Zhong et al. [(2017) Biosci. Rep. 37, BSR20160578], which explores microRNA-146a and how it may play an indirect yet vital role in the proliferation of osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes. The data presented by the authors could have important implications for future OA therapies.