MicroRNAs in adult and embryonic neurogenesis

Neuromolecular Med. 2009;11(3):141-52. doi: 10.1007/s12017-009-8077-y. Epub 2009 Jul 14.

Abstract

Neurogenesis is defined as a process that includes the proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) and the differentiation of these cells into new neurons that integrate into the existing neuronal circuitry. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of small non-protein coding RNA molecules implicated in a wide range of diverse gene regulatory mechanisms. More and more data demonstrate that numerous miRNAs are expressed in a spatially and temporally controlled manners in the nervous system, which suggests that miRNAs have important roles in the gene regulatory networks involved in both brain development and adult neural plasticity. This review summarizes the roles of miRNAs-mediated gene regulation in the nervous system with focus on neurogenesis in both embryonic and adult brains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Central Nervous System / physiology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / anatomy & histology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Neurogenesis / genetics*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology

Substances

  • MicroRNAs