The Expression and Functional Roles of miRNAs in Embryonic and Lineage-Specific Stem Cells

Abstract

The discovery of small non-coding RNAs began an interesting era in cellular and molecular biology. To date, miRNAs are the best recognized non-coding RNAs for maintenance and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells including embryonic stem cells (ES), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and cancer stem cells. ES cells are defined by their ability to self-renew, teratoma formation, and to produce numerous types of differentiated cells. Dual capacity of ES cells for self-renewal and differentiation is controlled by specific interaction with the neighboring cells and intrinsic signaling pathways from the level of transcription to translation. The ES cells have been the suitable model for evaluating the function of non-coding RNAs and in specific miRNAs. So far, the general function of the miRNAs in ES cells has been assessed in mammalian and non-mammalian stem cells. Nowadays, the evolution of sequencing technology led to the discovery of numerous miRNAs in human and mouse ES cells that their expression levels significantly changes during proliferation and differentiation. Several miRNAs have been identified in ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm cells, as well. This review would focus on recent knowledge about the expression and functional roles of miRNAs in embryonic and lineage-specific stem cells. It also describes that miRNAs might have essential roles in orchestrating the Waddington's landscape structure during development.

miR-183/96/182 cluster is an important morphogenetic factor targetingPAX6expression in differentiating human retinal organoids

“…MiRNAs represent the key "fine-tuners" of gene expression during the differentiation of hPSCs. It has been previously shown that manipulation with single miRNA or the whole miRNA cluster/family may have a significant impact on differentiation outcomes of pluripotent stem cells [16][17][18][19]. Here we show that the miR-183/96/182 cluster regulates PAX6 expression in differentiating hPSCs into retinal organoids.…”

miR-183/96/182 cluster is an important morphogenetic factor targeting PAX6 expression in differentiating human retinal organoids

“…MiRNAs represent the key “fine‐tuners” of gene expression during the differentiation of hPSCs. It has been previously shown that manipulation with single miRNA or the whole miRNA cluster/family may have a significant impact on differentiation outcomes of pluripotent stem cells 16‐19 . Here, we show that the miR‐183/96/182 cluster regulates PAX6 expression in differentiating hPSCs into retinal organoids.…”

“…It has been previously shown that manipulation with single miRNA or the whole miRNA cluster/family may have a significant impact on differentiation outcomes of pluripotent stem cells. [16][17][18][19] Here, we show that the miR-183/96/182 cluster regulates PAX6 expression in differentiating hPSCs into retinal organoids. its expression is necessary for eye formation and retinal development.…”

Differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into erythroid cells

“…Conventional differentiation methods compared with the novel growth factor-and serum-free culture approaches for erythroid differentiation of human iPSCs therefore conceivable that HDAC2 activators may enhance chromatin condensation of iPSC-derived erythroid cells [141]. MicroRNAs are important regulators that downregulate the expression of target genes [142,143] and improve the maintenance of immature hematopoietic cells and terminal erythroid differentiation [58,143]. Therefore, different combinations of microRNAs may increase the numbers of iPSC-derived mature RBCs [139].…”