MicroRNAs in neural cell development and brain diseases

Abstract

MicroRNAs play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by inhibiting protein translation and/or promoting mRNA degradation. Importantly, biogenesis of microRNAs displays specific temporal and spatial profiles in distinct cell and tissue types and hence affects a broad spectrum of biological functions in normal cell growth and tumor development. Recent discoveries have revealed sophisticated mechanisms that control microRNA production and homeostasis in response to developmental and extracellular signals. Moreover, a link between dysregulation of microRNAs and human brain disorders has become increasingly evident. In this review, we focus on recent advances in understanding the regulation of microRNA biogenesis and function in neuronal and glial development in the mammalian brain, and dysregulation of the microRNA pathway in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. microRNAs, neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, oligodendroglial differentiation, brain tumor, neurodegenerative disorders Citation:Feng W, Feng Y. MicroRNAs in neural cell development and brain diseases.

Regulation network and expression profiles of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded microRNAs and their potential target host genes in nasopharyngeal carcinomas

“…This binding impairs translation and inhibits the expression of target genes in a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-like manner [1618]. miRNAs are involved in regulating a broad range of biological processes [19][20][21][22][23][24][25], such as signal transduction pathways that are often dysregulated in cancers [2629].…”

Regulation of innate receptor pathways by microRNAs

“…Chen R et al identified miR-199a as a regulator of IKK which is a major factor promoting a functional TLR-MyD88-NF-B pathway to constitutively secrete proinflammatory/protumor cytokines [39]. A link between dysregulation of miRNAs and human brain disorders has become increasingly evident [40,41]. Recently, extracellular let-7 has been shown to activate the RNA-sensing TLR7 and induce neurodegeneration [42].…”

microRNAs That Promote or Inhibit Memory Formation in Drosophila melanogaster

“…Dysregulation of miRNA expression has been described in several human neurodevelopmental diseases (Martino et al 2009;Xu et al 2010;Feng and Feng 2011;Nowak and Michlewski 2013). For example, Xu et al (2008) demonstrated that miR124a ectopic expression decreases dendritic branching, an effect rescued by the loss of dFMRP expression.…”

“…An important second way by which miRNAs may alter adult learning and memory is through neurodevelopmental roles (Xu et al 2010;Im and Kenny 2012;Saab and Mansuy 2014). Dysregulation of miRNA expression has been described in several human neurodevelopmental diseases (Martino et al 2009;Xu et al 2010;Feng and Feng 2011;Nowak and Michlewski 2013). For example, Xu et al (2008) demonstrated that miR124a ectopic expression decreases dendritic branching, an effect rescued by the loss of dFMRP expression.…”