Role of miR-17 family in the negative feedback loop of bone morphogenetic protein signaling in neuron

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 11;8(12):e83067. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083067. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is active in many tissues including the central nervous system, in which it regulates cell proliferation, differentiation and maturation. The modulation of BMP pathway is crucial since abnormality of BMP signaling may cause cellular malfunction such as apoptosis. There are evidences indicating that miR-17 family is involved in the BMP signaling. In the present study, we demonstrated that BMP2 stimulation directly increased the transcription of miR-17-92 and miR-106b-25 cluster via Smad activation, which leads to the up-regulation of mature miR-17/20a/93. In addition, we provided evidence that BMP2 activation repressed BMPRII expression through modulating miR-17 family in primary neurons. Furthermore, we proved that such negative regulation protected neurons from apoptosis induced by abnormal BMP signaling. Taken together, these results suggest a regulatory pathway of BMP-miR-17 family-BMPRII, which consist a negative feedback loop that balances BMP signaling and maintains cell homeostasis in neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / biosynthesis*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / biosynthesis
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Homeostasis / physiology
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Multigene Family / physiology*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Smad Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Bmp2 protein, mouse
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn17 microRNA, mouse
  • Smad Proteins
  • Bmpr2 protein, mouse
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31000478, 31100777 and 31271378). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.