MicroRNA Regulation of Neural Stem Cells and Neurogenesis: Figure 1.

Abstract

MicroRNAs are a class of small RNA regulators that are involved in numerous cellular processes, including development, proliferation, differentiation, and plasticity. The emerging concept is that microRNAs play a central role in controlling the balance between stem cell self-renewal and fate determination by regulating the expression of stem cell regulators. This review will highlight recent advances in the regulation of neural stem cell self-renewal and neurogenesis by microRNAs. It will cover microRNA functions during the entire process of neurogenesis, from neural stem cell self-renewal and fate determination to neuronal maturation, synaptic formation, and plasticity. The interplay between microRNAs and both cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic stem cell players, including transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, and extrinsic signaling molecules will be discussed. This is a summary of the topics covered in the mini-symposium on microRNA regulation of neural stem cells and neurogenesis in SFN 2010 and is not meant to be a comprehensive review of the subject.

Impact of a microRNA MIR137 Susceptibility Variant on Brain Function in People at High Genetic Risk of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder

“…At present there is a rather limited literature. It is considered to be enriched in neurones, particularly, in the dentate gyrus and it is thought to have multiple functions during different stages of neurodevelopment (Shi et al, 2010;Smrt et al, 2010;Szulwach et al, 2010). Two recent molecular studies indicate MIR137 is involved in multiple epigenetic mechanisms regulating the balance of neuronal proliferation and differentiation (Sun et al, 2011;Smrt et al, 2010;Szulwach et al, 2010).…”

“…Indeed, postmortem studies have indicated differential expression levels of several miRNAs in prefrontal regions in SCZ and BD vs healthy controls (Perkins et al, 2007;Forero et al, 2010;Kim et al, 2010;Beveridge et al, 2011). In terms of MIR137 specifically, normal levels of expression are required for regulating the balance of neuronal proliferation and differentiation (Sun et al, 2011;Shi et al, 2010;Smrt et al, 2010;Szulwach et al, 2010). Although the expression pattern has yet to be fully established, it is enriched in neurons, particularly in the dentate gyrus, a region implicated in psychiatric disorders and known to undergo neurogenesis into adulthood (Sempere et al, 2004;Smrt et al, 2010).…”

A conserved microRNA/NMD regulatory circuit controls gene expression

“…10 This was, in part, prompted by the discovery that several miRNAs display selective expression in the brain. It was further fueled by the finding that many miRNAs have striking developmental patterns of expression in the nervous system and exhibit compartmentalized expression patterns within neurons.…”

“…It was further fueled by the finding that many miRNAs have striking developmental patterns of expression in the nervous system and exhibit compartmentalized expression patterns within neurons. 10 Subsequent functional studies conducted in a wide range of species showed that brain-expressed miRNAs have key functions in virtually all stages of neural development and function, ranging from controlling the self-renewal and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSC) to dictating the synaptic activities of mature neurons. 10,11 The molecular mechanism by which miRNAs control neural events are only just beginning to be elucidated.…”

“…10 Subsequent functional studies conducted in a wide range of species showed that brain-expressed miRNAs have key functions in virtually all stages of neural development and function, ranging from controlling the self-renewal and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSC) to dictating the synaptic activities of mature neurons. 10,11 The molecular mechanism by which miRNAs control neural events are only just beginning to be elucidated. In some cases, miRNAs have been shown to regulate signaling cascades that direct neural differentiation and function.…”