Unraveling the Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Neuronal Commitment and Neurogenesis
01 Jan 2017-pp 43-59
TL;DR: To further understand the lncRNA-mediated regulation in stage-specific development of pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons and other brain cells, potential lnc RNA signatures implicative in brain development or dysregulation are identified using data mining and analyses.
Abstract: Adult neurogenesis is primarily directed by neural progenitor cells, which reside in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and subgranular zone (SGZ) of the brain. Unfolding transcriptional heterogeneity and complexity of various neurodevelopmental stages can probe new insights into neurogenesis and neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent findings have suggested that epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in neural differentiation involve long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as a new genre of regulators. Although many studies have addressed the overall consequences of the noncoding RNome (noncoding RNA content) on the genome, lesser is known about their specific roles and consequences in adult neurogenesis, neurodevelopmental stages, and onset of neuropathology. Recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based neurological disease modeling have shed light on new avenues to investigate neuronal development as well as molecular paradigms underlying onset of neurological impairments. However, due to limited availability of brain tissues and gap in the understanding of lncRNA biomarkers in neurodevelopment, the study of lncRNA in neurogenesis still exists at its infancy. To further understand the lncRNA-mediated regulation in stage-specific development of pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons and other brain cells, we identified potential lncRNA signatures implicative in brain development or dysregulation using data mining and analyses. They may be used in monitoring disease progression and may serve as potential targets for novel therapeutic approaches.
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TL;DR: This article showed that OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, and LIN28 factors are sufficient to reprogram human somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells that exhibit the essential characteristics of embryonic stem (ES) cells.
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6,220 citations
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5,497 citations