Comprehensive analysis of microRNA expression in regionalized human neural progenitor cells reveals microRNA-10 as a caudalizing factor.

Jönsson ME, Nelander Wahlestedt J, Åkerblom M, Kirkeby A, Malmevik J, Brattaas PL, Jakobsson J, Parmar M

Development 142 (18) 3166-3177 [2015-09-15; online 2015-09-24]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in regulating multiple processes during brain development in various species. However, the function of miRNAs in human brain development remains largely unexplored. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of miRNA expression of regionalized neural progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells and human foetal brain. We found miR-92b-3p and miR-130b-5p to be specifically associated with neural progenitors and several miRNAs that display both age-specific and region-specific expression patterns. Among these miRNAs, we identified miR-10 to be specifically expressed in the human hindbrain and spinal cord, while being absent from rostral regions. We found that miR-10 regulates a large number of genes enriched for functions including transcription, actin cytoskeleton and ephrin receptor signalling. When overexpressed, miR-10 influences caudalization of human neural progenitor cells. Together, these data confirm a role for miRNAs in establishing different human neural progenitor populations. This dataset also provides a comprehensive resource for future studies investigating the functional role of different miRNAs in human brain development.

NGI Uppsala (SNP&SEQ Technology Platform)

National Genomics Infrastructure

PubMed 26395143

DOI 10.1242/dev.122747

Crossref 10.1242/dev.122747

pii: 142/18/3166
pmc: PMC4582174
GEO: GSE71204