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New Insights: MicroRNA Function in CNS Development and Psychiatric Diseases

  • Neurogenesis and Disease (L Cai, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Here, we concisely review microRNA (miRNA)-related research publications on the central nervous system (CNS) development (focusing on the forebrain and the cerebellum) and related psychiatric diseases over the past 3 years. We intend to summarize the new insights from these publications and, at the same time, provide personal views on some of the important mechanistic questions in the field.

Recent Findings

MiRNAs, a type of small non-coding RNA molecules, have emerged as essential players in many biological processes. During CNS development, miRNAs have also been shown to exert their posttranscriptional regulation in numerous developmental events acting from master regulators to fine tuners of gene expression. While a single miRNA miR-980 regulates neuronal excitability and leads to alterations in behaviors associated with memory, sometimes multiple miRNAs have to functionally converge to induce one developmental process. Recent findings identified novel target genes for selected miRNAs during distinct developmental processes, and highlighted their important functions in several signaling pathways. Meanwhile, abnormal function of miRNAs during CNS development could lead to psychiatric diseases later on in life. Indeed, genomic variants, microdeletion, and microduplication could directly or indirectly involve miRNAs in the onset of these psychiatric diseases.

Summary

Over the years, substantial research discoveries have been made to uncover molecular mechanisms of miRNA action, especially in the CNS, during normal development and under disease conditions. Thorough understanding of miRNAs function during these biological processes will facilitate future therapeutic interventions with this small, chemically synthesizable RNA molecules.

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Fig. 1: The expression regulation of MRS target genes under normal and Dicer-null conditions.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as:• Of importance•• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to apologize to the scientific colleagues whose work could not be included in this review due to space limitation. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30971633 and 31171045), the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province (Young Scientific Innovation Team in Neurological Disorders grant 2011JTD0005), and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (PCSIRT) (IRT0935).

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  1. Qian Liu and Lu Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Qian Liu

  2. Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, High-tech International Plaza, High-tech Zone, Chengdu, 610000, People’s Republic of China

    Lu Zhang

  3. Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Hedong Li

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Liu, Q., Zhang, L. & Li, H. New Insights: MicroRNA Function in CNS Development and Psychiatric Diseases. Curr Pharmacol Rep 4, 132–144 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40495-018-0129-2

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