title: MiR-125b orchestrates cell proliferation, differentiation and migration in neural stem/progenitor cells by targeting Nestin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The emerging concept is that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a central role in controlling stem cell self-renewal and fate determination by regulating the expression of stem cell regulators. miR-125b, one of neuronal miRNAs, recently was found to be necessary for neural differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs). However, the other specific biological role of miR-125b in NS/PCs is little known. We used rat NS/PCs as a model system to study the role of miR-125b in governing the behavior of NS/PCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report here the transfection of exogenous miR-125b inhibited proliferation of NS/PCs but promoted differentiation and migration. Whereas anti-miR-125b had the opposite effect. Similar results were observed when Nestin was knocked down by siRNA. Subsequently, we demonstrated that Nestin was a direct functional target of miR-125b. MiR-125b downregulates the expression of luciferase through Nestin 3'untranslated region (3'-UTR), and the regulation was abolished by mutations in the miR-125b binding site. MiR-125b targeted the 3'-UTR of Nestin and reduced the abundance of Nestin at both mRNA and protein levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provided new insight into the function by which miR-125b modulates NS/PCs proliferation, differentiation and migration. The data also indicated the regulatory role of miR-125b in NS/PCs might through the suppression of Nestin expression.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Zhifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wenyong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianwu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064231:Nestin; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine