miR-183/96/182 cluster is an important morphogenetic factor targetingPAX6expression in differentiating human retinal organoids
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2020 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Stem Cells |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://stemcellsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/stem.3272 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/stem.3272 |
| Keywords | microRNAs; organoids; pluripotent stem cells; retina |
| Description | MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small, noncoding RNA molecules represent important regulators of gene expression. Recent reports have implicated their role in the cell specification process acting as "fine-tuners" to ensure the precise gene expression at the specific stage of cell differentiation. Here, we used retinal organoids differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) as a model to closely investigate the role of a sensory organ-specific and evolutionary conserved miR-183/96/182 cluster. Using a miRNA tough decoy approach, we inhibited the miR-183/96/182 cluster in hPSCs. Inhibition of the miRNA cluster resulted in an increased expansion of neuroepithelium leading to abnormal "bulged" neural retina in organoids, associated with upregulation of neural-specific and retinal-specific genes. Importantly, we identifiedPAX6, a well-known essential gene in neuroectoderm specification, as a target of the miR-183/96/182 cluster members. Taken together, the miR-183/96/182 cluster not only represents an important regulator ofPAX6expression, but it also plays a crucial role in retinal tissue morphogenesis. |
| Related projects: |