Role of microRNAs in myeloid differentiation.

Abstract

All types of blood cell of the body are continuously produced by rare pluripotent self-renewing HSCs (haemopoietic stem cells) by a process known as haemopoiesis. This process provides a valuable model for examining how genetic programmes involved in cell differentiation are established, and also how cell-fate specification is altered in leukaemia. Here, we describe examples of how miRNAs (microRNAs) can influence myelopoiesis and how the identification of their target mRNAs has contributed to the understanding of the molecular networks involved in the alternative control between cell growth and differentiation. Ectopic expression and knockdown of specific miRNAs have provided powerful molecular tools able to control the switch between proliferation and differentiation, therefore providing new therapeutic tools for interfering with tumorigenesis.

• Authors: Alessandro Fatica, Alessandro Rosa, Monica Ballarino, Maria Laura De Marchis, Kasper D Rasmussen, Irene Bozzoni
• Journal: Biochemical Society transactions (Biochem Soc Trans) Vol. 36 Issue Pt 6 Pg. 1201-5 (Dec 2008) ISSN: 1470-8752 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19021525 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• MicroRNAs
• Tretinoin

Topics

• Cell Differentiation (drug effects)
• Cell Line
• Granulocytes (cytology, drug effects)
• Humans
• Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute (genetics, pathology)
• MicroRNAs (genetics, metabolism)
• Models, Biological
• Monocytes (cytology, drug effects)
• Myeloid Cells (cytology, drug effects)
• Tretinoin (pharmacology)