title: The expression of microRNA-203 during human skin morphogenesis.
abstract: MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and play important roles in various biological processes. We previously identified miR-203 as a skin- and keratinocyte-specific microRNA. Moreover, miR-203 has been implicated in repressing 'stemness' in epidermal progenitors. Here, we investigate the expression of miR-203 and two of its targets, p63 and suppressor of cytokine signalling-3, during human skin morphogenesis. MiR-203 in situ hybridization was performed on sections of human foetal skin ranging from 14 to 22 weeks' gestation and adult skin. MiR-203 was barely detectable at 14 weeks. Its expression became prominent from week 17 and was most pronounced in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis, while p63 and SOCS-3 were preferentially expressed in the basal layer. Differentiation markers such as involucrin and filaggrin were expressed mainly in the suprabasal layers of epidermis, similar to miR-203. Our results support the involvement of miR-203 in skin morphogenesis.
authors.forename: Tianling
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orfanidis
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janson
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ståhle
authors.forename: Andor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pivarcsi
authors.forename: Enikö
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sonkoly
mesh_terms: D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009024:Morphogenesis; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C000717249:FLG protein, human; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; C546703:MIRN203 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs