Table III.

Predicted signaling pathways, based on the potential target genes of miR-92a.

Signaling pathway	P-value	Predicted target gene	Function in chondrogenesis
PI3K-Akt	0.064	Sgk3, Phlpp2, Pten, Pik3r3, Tsc1, Itga5, Itga6, Col1a2, Akt1, Bcl2l11and Itgav	Synergizing with runx2 to enhance normal hypertrophic differentiation and endochondral bone growth; promoting matrix synthesis and chondrocyte survival in adult articular chondrocytes (22).
ErbB	0.076	Akt1, Pik3r3, Map2k4 and Braf	Contributing to expression of aggrecanases and matrix metalloproteinases, delayed chondrogenesis and inhibition of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway via downstream MAPK activation (23).
Focal adhesion	0.014	Rap1b, Pten, Pik3r3, Itga5, Itga6, Braf, Col1a2, Akt1 and Itgav	Inhibiting chondrogenesis via expression of actin and activation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway (24).
ECM-receptor interaction	0.024	Col1a2, Sdc2, Itga5, Itga6 and Itgav	Inhibiting chondrogenesis via Itga5-mediated cellular-ECM interaction (25).
mTOR	0.007	Pten, Tsc1, Pik3r3, Braf and Akt1	Reducing bone growth and hypertrophy; enhancing insulin-like growth factor I mediated proteoglycan synthesis in adult articular chondrocytes (5).

PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; ROCK, Rho-associated protein kinase; ECM, extracellular matrix; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin.