Let-7 and miR-140 microRNAs coordinately regulate skeletal development.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in multiple processes of skeletal development. A global reduction of miRNAs in growth plate chondrocytes results in defects in both proliferation and differentiation; however, specific microRNAs responsible for these defects have not been identified. In this study, we provide evidence that let-7 miRNAs and microRNA-140 (miR-140), among other miRNAs expressed in chondrocytes, play major roles in endochondral bone development. We overexpressed lin-28 homolog A (Lin28a) to inhibit let-7 miRNA biogenesis in growth plate chondrocytes. Lin28a overexpression efficiently and specifically reduced let-7 miRNAs and up-regulated let-7 target genes. However, unlike the previous notion that let-7 miRNAs inhibit proliferation and growth, suppression of let-7 miRNAs

SUBMITTER: Papaioannou G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3761644 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature