AUTHOR=Lee Yukyeong , Lee Seung-Won , Jeong Dahee , Lee Hye Jeong , Ko Kinarm 

TITLE=The role of microRNA-325-3p as a critical player in cell death in NSCs and astrocytes 

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2023.1223987

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2023.1223987

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=Neural stem cells (NSCs) are defined by their ability to self-renew and generate various cell types within the nervous system. Understanding the underlying mechanism by which NSCs proliferate and differentiate is crucial for efficient modulation of in vivo neurogenesis. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs controlling gene expression concerned in post-transcriptional control by blocking messenger RNA (mRNA) translation or degrading mRNA. MicroRNAs play a role as modulators by matching target mRNAs. Recent studies have discussed the biological mechanism of microRNAs regulation in neurogenesis. To investigate the role of microRNA in NSCs and NSCderived glial cells, we screened out NSC-specific microRNAs using miRNome-wide screening.Then, we induced down-regulation by sponge against the specific microRNA to evaluate the functional role of the microRNA in proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in NSCs and NSCderived astrocytes. We found that microRNA-325-3p is highly expressed in NSCs and astrocytes. Furthermore, we showed that microRNA-325-3p is a regulator of apoptosis by targeting brainspecific angiogenesis inhibitor (BAI1) which was known as a receptor for apoptotic cells and expressed in brain and cultured astrocytes. Down-regulation of microRNA-325-3p using an inducible sponge system induced cell death by regulating BAI1 in NSCs and NSC-derived astrocytes. Overall, our findings can provide an insight into the potential roles of NSC-specific microRNAs in brain neurogenesis and suggest the possible usage of the microRNAs as biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease.