title: miRNAs are required for the terminal differentiation of white matter astrocytes in the developing CNS.
abstract: While the regulation of the neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis by microRNAs has been intensively studied, little is known about the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of astrocytes. Here, we report that microRNAs play an essential role in the differentiation and maturation of white matter astrocytes in mouse spinal cord tissues. In glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)/Dicer conditional mutants, the initial generation of astrocyte progenitor cells was normal in the spinal cord. However, there was a much reduced number of GFAP+ astrocytes with shorter processes in the white matter of mutant tissues. In contrast, the expression of gray matter protoplasmic astrocyte marker was not affected. Together, our studies indicated that miRNAs are required for the differentiation and morphological maturation of white matter fibrous astrocytes in the developing spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China; Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. Electronic address: m0qiu001@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China. Electronic address: zhengkang4114@163.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D066127:White Matter / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D035683:MicroRNAs; C528900:glial fibrillary astrocytic protein, mouse; C509781:Dicer1 protein, mouse; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases
keywords: Dicer; differentiation; glia; microRNAs; spinal cord