title: MicroRNAs and epigenetics in adult neurogenesis.
abstract: Neurogenesis occurs throughout adulthood in the mammalian brain. Neural stem cells (NSCs) exist in three distinct areas of the brain: the subventricular zone, the olfactory bulb, and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression, which includes DNA methylation and histone modification, plays a significant role in modulating NSC proliferation and differentiation. However, the functions of miRNAs in neurogenesis are just beginning to be understood. Based on the recent literature, miRNAs are suggested to play an important role in the epigenetic regulation of NSCs and differentiation of lineage populations, which include neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Recent studies have elucidated the roles of miRNAs in embryonic and adult neurogenesis, specifically, their involvement in stem cell maintenance and differentiation, neuronal maturation and neurite outgrowth, dendritogenesis, and spine formation. The cross-talk between miRNAs and epigenetic regulators appears to modulate neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain. Since the dysfunction in miRNA machinery contributes to many types of neurodegenerative disorders, a better understanding of how miRNAs influence the neurogenesis and differentiation may offer novel targets for therapeutic application.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan; Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan; Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan; Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujimaki
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan; Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asashima
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan; Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwabara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Adult neurogenesis; Dicer; Neural stem cell; Neurological disorder; miRNA