Specification and maintenance of oligodendrocyte precursor cells from neural progenitor cells: involvement of microRNA-7a.

ABSTRACT: The generation of myelinating cells from multipotential neural stem cells in the CNS requires the initiation of specific gene expression programs in oligodendrocytes (OLs). We reasoned that microRNAs (miRNAs) could play an important role in this process by regulating genes crucial for OL development. Here we identified miR-7a as one of the highly enriched miRNAs in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), overexpression of which in either neural progenitor cells (NPCs) or embryonic mouse cortex promoted the generation of OL lineage cells. Blocking the function of miR-7a in differentiating NPCs led to a reduction in OL number and an expansion of neuronal populations simultaneously. We also found that overexpression of this miRNA in purified OPC cultures promoted cell proliferation and inhibi

SUBMITTER: Zhao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3408414 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature