ObjectiveTo investigate the regulatory effect of long chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) adsorbing microRNA-124 (miR-124) on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).MethodsC3H10T1/2 cells derived from mouse embryos were cultured in vitro, then randomly divided into control group (group A), lncRNA MALAT1 no-load plasmid group (group B), lncRNA MALAT1 overexpression plasmid group (group C), lncRNA MALAT1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) group (group D), and lncRNA MALAT1 siRNA negative control group (group E). The cells were transfected into plasmids and siRNA, then induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining were used to detect the osteogenic differentiation of cells in each group, real-time fluorescence quantitative (qRT-PCR) analysis was used to detect the expressions of lncRNA MALAT, miR-124, and osteogenesis-related genes such as Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteopontin (OPN), and osteocalcin (OCN) in each group. Double luciferase reporter gene was used to detect the targeting regulation of lncRNA MALAT1 to miR-124.ResultsThe relative contents of ALP positive cells, mineralized nodule, and the relative mRNA expressions of lncRNA MALAT1, Runx2, OPN, and OCN in group C were significantly higher than those in other groups (P<0.05), while in group D significantly lower than in other groups (P<0.05); the relative expression of miR-124 in group C was significantly lower than that in other groups(P<0.05), while in group D significantly higher than in other groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in these indexes between groups A, B, and E (P>0.05). The results of double luciferase reporter gene assay showed that lncRNA MALAT1 targeting down-regulated the expression of miR-124.ConclusionLncRNA MALAT1 can targeting down-regulate the expression of miR-124 and promote the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.