MicroRNA-9 coordinates proliferation and migration of human embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitors

MicroRNA-9 regulates neurogenesis in mouse telencephalon by targeting multiple transcription factors

microRNA-9-2 and microRNA-9-3 double-mutant mice demonstrate that microRNA-9 (miR-9) controls neural progenitor proliferation and differentiation in the developing telencephalon by regulating the expression of multiple transcription factors. As suggested by our previous study, the Foxg1 expression was elevated, and the production of Cajal-Retzius cells and early-born neurons was suppressed in the miR-9-2/3 double-mutant pallium. At embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5), however, the Foxg1 expression was no longer elevated. The expression of an AU-rich RNA-binding protein Elavl2 increased at E16.5, Elav2 associated with Foxg1 3' untranslated region (UTR), and it countered the Foxg1 suppression by miR-9. Later, progenitor proliferation was reduced in the miR-9-2/3 double-mutant pallium with the decrease in Nr2e1 and Pax6 expression and the increase in Meis2 expression. The analyses suggest that microRNA-9 indirectly inhibits Pax6 expression by suppressing Meis2 expression. In contrast, together with Elavl1 and Msi1, microRNA-9 targets Nr2e1 mRNA 3' UTR to enhance the expression. Concomitantly, cortical layers were reduced, each cortical projection was malformed, and the tangential migration of interneurons into the pallium was impaired in the miR-9-2/3 double mutants. miR-9 also targets Gsh2 3' UTR, and Gsh2, as well as Foxg1, expression was elevated in the miR-9-2/3 double-mutant subpallium. The subpallium progenitor proliferation was enhanced, and the development of basal ganglia including striatum and globus pallidus was suppressed. Pallial/subpallial boundary shifted dorsally, and the ventral pallium was lost. Corridor was malformed, and thalamocortical and corticofugal axons were misrouted in the miR-9-2/3 double mutants.

Dentate gyrus neurogenesis, integration and microRNAs

Neurons are born and become a functional part of the synaptic circuitry in adult brains. The proliferative phase of neurogenesis has been extensively reviewed. We therefore focus this review on a few topics addressing the functional role of adult-generated newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus. We discuss the evidence for a link between neurogenesis and behavior. We then describe the steps in the integration of newborn neurons into a functioning mature synaptic circuit. Given the profound effects of neural activity on the differentiation and integration of newborn neurons, we discuss the role of activity-dependent gene expression in the birth and maturation of newborn neurons. The differentiation and maturation of newborn neurons likely involves the concerted action of many genes. Thus we focus on transcription factors that can direct large changes to the transcriptome, and microRNAs, a newly-discovered class of molecules that can effect the expression of hundreds of genes. How microRNAs affect the generation and integration of newborn neurons is just being explored, but there are compelling clues hinting at their involvement.

Role of T198 modification in the regulation of p27(Kip1) protein stability and function

The tumor suppressor gene p27^Kip1 plays a fundamental role in human cancer progression. Its expression and/or functions are altered in almost all the different tumor histotype analyzed so far. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the tumor suppression function of p27 resides not only in the ability to inhibit Cyclins/CDKs complexes through its N-terminal domain but also in the capacity to modulate cell motility through its C-terminal portion. Particular interest has been raised by the last amino-acid, (Threonine 198) in the regulation of both protein stability and cell motility.

Here, we describe that the presence of Threonine in position 198 is of primary importance for the regulation of the protein stability and for the control of cell motility. However, while the control of cell motility is dependent on the phosphorylation of T198, the stability of the protein is specifically controlled by the steric hindrance of the last amino acid. The effects of T198 modification on protein stability are not linked to the capacity of p27 to bind Cyclins/CDKs complexes and/or the F-box protein Skp2. Conversely, our results support the hypothesis that conformational changes in the disordered structure of the C-terminal portion of p27 are important in its ability to be degraded via a proteasome-dependent mechanism. On the other hand T198 phosphorylation favors p27/stathmin interaction eventually contributing to the regulation of cell motility, supporting the hypothesis that the presence of T198 is fundamental for the regulation of p27 functions.

Network-like impact of MicroRNAs on neuronal lineage differentiation of unrestricted somatic stem cells from human cord blood

Unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) represent an intrinsically multipotent CD45-negative fetal population from human cord blood. They show differentiation into neuronal cells of a dopaminergic phenotype, which express neuronal markers such as synaptophysin, neuronal-specific nuclear protein, and neurofilament and release the neurotransmitter dopamine accompanied by expression of dopaminergic key factors tyrosine hydroxylase and Nurr1 (NR4A2). MicroRNA expression analysis highlighted their importance in neural development but their specific functions remain poorly understood. Here, downregulation of a set of 18 microRNAs during neuronal lineage differentiation of unrestricted somatic stem cells, including members of the miR-17-92 family and additional microRNAs such as miR-130a, -138, -218, and -335 as well as their target genes, is described. In silico target gene predictions for this microRNA group uncovered a large set of proteins involved in neuronal differentiation and having a strong impact on differentiation-related pathways such as axon guidance and TGFβ, WNT, and MAPK signaling. Experimental target validations confirmed approximately 35% of predictions tested and revealed a group of proteins with specific impact on neuronal differentiation and function including neurobeachin, neurogenic differentiation 1, cysteine-rich motor neuron protein 1, neuropentraxin 1, and others. These proteins are combined targets for several subgroups from the set of 18 downregulated microRNAs. This finding was further supported by the observed upregulation of a significant amount of predicted and validated target genes based on Illumina Beadstudio microarray data. Confirming the functional relationship of a limited panel of microRNAs and predicted target proteins reveals a clear network-like impact of the group of 18 downregulated microRNAs on proteins involved in neuronal development and function.

MicroRNA-9 reveals regional diversity of neural progenitors along the anterior-posterior axis

Neural progenitors self-renew and generate neurons throughout the central nervous system. Here, we uncover an unexpected regional specificity in the properties of neural progenitor cells, revealed by the function of a microRNA—miR-9. miR-9 is expressed in neural progenitors, and its knockdown results in an inhibition of neurogenesis along the anterior-posterior axis. However, the underlying mechanism differs—in the hindbrain, progenitors fail to exit the cell cycle, whereas in the forebrain they undergo apoptosis, counteracting the proliferative effect. Among several targets, we functionally identify hairy1 as a primary target of miR-9, regulated at the mRNA level. hairy1 mediates the effects of miR-9 on proliferation, through Fgf8 signaling in the forebrain and Wnt signaling in the hindbrain, but affects apoptosis only in the forebrain, via the p53 pathway. Our findings show a positional difference in the responsiveness of progenitors to miR-9 depletion, revealing an underlying divergence of their properties.

MicroRNA function in the nervous system

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an extensive class of small noncoding RNAs that control posttranscriptional gene expression. miRNAs are highly expressed in neurons where they play key roles during neuronal differentiation, synaptogenesis, and plasticity. It is also becoming increasingly evident that miRNAs have a profound impact on higher cognitive functions and are involved in the etiology of several neurological diseases and disorders. In this chapter, we summarize our current knowledge of miRNA functions during neuronal development, physiology, and dysfunction.

MicroRNA regulation of neural stem cells and neurogenesis

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.

microRNAs: tiny RNA molecules, huge driving forces to move the cell

Cell migration or movement is a highly dynamic cellular process, requiring precise regulation that is essential for a variety of biological processes. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of tiny non-coding RNA molecules that function as critical post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Emerging evidence demonstrates that miRNAs play important roles in cell migration and directly contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, cell adhesion, and cell signalling that controls cell migration by targeting a large number of protein-coding genes. Accordingly, the dysregulation of these miRNAs has been linked to several migration-related diseases. In this review, we summarize and highlight the recent advances concerning the roles and validated targets of miRNAs in the control of cell movement.

MicroRNAs as regulators of differentiation and cell fate decisions

Unique expression domains, targets, and gain- and loss-of-function phenotypes of particular microRNAs have important implications for directed differentiation of stem cell populations and suppression of undesired cell types. We discuss this emerging topic, in part using muscle differentiation as a paradigm, and highlight common themes and unique modalities by which microRNAs exert their lineage-promoting or differentiation effects on multiple tissues.

Context-dependent functions of specific microRNAs in neuronal development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate multiple developmental processes at the post-transcriptional level. Recent rapid progresses have demonstrated critical roles for a number of miRNAs in neuronal development and function. In particular, miR-9 and miR-124 are specifically expressed in the mammalian nervous system, and their respective nucleotide sequences are 100% identical among many species. Yet, their expression patterns and mRNA targets are less conserved throughout evolution. As a consequence, these miRNAs exhibit diverse context-dependent functions in different aspects of neuronal development, ranging from early neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation to dendritic morphogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Some other neuronal miRNAs also exhibit context-dependent functions in development. Thus, post-transcriptional regulation of spatial and temporal expression levels of protein-coding genes by miRNAs contributes uniquely to the proper development and evolution of the complex nervous system.

MicroRNA-9 controls a migratory mechanism in human neural progenitor cells

MicroRNAs play roles in developmental switching; however, their roles in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) is poorly understood. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Delaloy et al. (2010) report that proliferation and migration choices in hNPCs are regulated by miR-9.