Functional studies of microRNAs in neural stem cells: problems and perspectives.

• Main Authors: Malin eÅkerblom, Rohit eSachdeva, Johan eJakobsson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2012-02-01
• Series: Frontiers in Neuroscience
• Subjects: Neural Stem Cells; Neurogenesis; microRNA; miR-9; Let-7; mir-124
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2012.00014/full

In adult mammals, neural stem cells (NSCs) are found in two niches of the brain; the subventricular zone at the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is a complex process that is tightly controlled on a molecular level. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated to play a central role in the regulation of NCSs. miRNAs are small, endogenously expressed RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. However, functional studies of miRNAs are complicated due to current technical limitations. In this review we describe recent findings about miRNAs in NSCs looking closely at miR-124, miR-9 and let-7. We also highlight technical strategies used to investigate miRNA function, accentuating limitations and potentials.