Orchestration of alternative splicing regulates bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells fate during aging

Senescence and change of differentiation direction in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are two of the most important causes of age-related bone loss. As an important post-transcriptional regulatory pathway, alternative splicing (AS) regulates diversity of gene expression. However, the role of AS in BMSCs during aging remains poorly defined. Here we identify AS in specific genes disrupt gene expression pattern and result in age-related debility of BMSCs. We demonstrate the deficiency of splicing factor Y-box protein 1 (YBX1) result in mis-splicing in genes such as Fn1, Taz, Sirt2 and Sp7, further contributing to senescence and shift in differentiation direction of BMSCs during aging. Deletion or over-expression of YBX1 in BMSCs accelerate bone loss or stimulate bone formation in mice. Notably, we identify a small compound sciadopitysin which attenuate the degradation of YBX1 and attenuate bone loss in old mice. Our study demonstrates elaborately controlled RNA splicing governs cell fate of BMSCs and provides a potential therapeutic target for age-related osteoporosis.