GDF5 and Lassa fever: The findings presented herein show that miR-132-3p can suppress osteogenic differentiation of LF cells by targeting FOXO1, GDF5 and SOX6. Further, we demonstrated that FOXO1, GDF5 and SOX6 are expressed in LF cells and ossified ligamentum flavum tissues, and these osteogenesis-related genes may take effect at different stages of the osteogenic differentiation of LF cells.