MiR-223 regulates the differentiation of immature neurons

Abstract

Background: Small non-coding microRNA RNA molecules can regulate stem cell function. The role of microRNAs
in neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) differentiation is not entirely clear.
Methods: MiRNA profiling, loss and gain of function studies coupled with dendritic tree development
morphometric analysis and calcium influx imaging were utilized to investigate the role of micoRNA-223 in
differentiating NS/PCs.
Results: MiRNA profiling in human NS/PCs before and after differentiation in vitro reveals modulation of miRNAs
following differentiation of NS/PCs. MiR-223, a microRNA well characterized as a hematopoietic-specific miRNA was
identified. Cell-autonomous inhibition of miR-223 in the adult mouse dentate gyrus NS/PCs led to a significant
increase in immature neurons soma size, dendritic tree total length, branch number per neuron and complexity,
while neuronal migration in the dentate gyrus remained unaffected. Overexpression of miR-223 decreased dendritic
tree total length, branch number and complexity in neurons differentiated from human embryonic stem cells
(hESCs). Inhibition of miR-223 enhanced N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) induced calcium influx in human neurons
differentiated from NS/PCs.
Conclusions: Taken together, these findings indicate that miR-223 regulates the differentiation of neurons derived
from NS/PCs.