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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
09:49
Isolation of Region-specific Microglia from One Adult Mouse Brain Hemisphere for Deep Single-cell RNA Sequencing
Published on: December 3, 2019
Unwrapping myelination by microRNAs.
Xuelian He1, Yang Yu, Rajeshwar Awatramani
1Institute of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial for myelin sheath formation in the nervous system. Their dysregulation is linked to demyelinating diseases, highlighting their therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Myelination by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells is vital for neuronal function.
- Failure in myelination leads to severe demyelinating diseases.
- Oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell precursors undergo specific developmental changes to myelinate axons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell differentiation.
- To elucidate the dynamic regulation of miRNA expression during myelination.
- To discuss the functional links of miRNAs to regulatory networks in central and peripheral myelination.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on miRNA function in myelination.
- Analysis of miRNA-mediated gene regulation during cell differentiation.
- Examination of miRNA involvement in demyelinating diseases.
Main Results:
- Depletion of miRNAs arrests differentiation and prevents myelination in both cell types.
- miRNAs are dynamically regulated during the differentiation of myelinating cells.
- miRNAs are integral to the regulatory networks controlling central and peripheral myelination.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs are essential regulators of myelin development.
- Understanding miRNA roles offers insights into demyelinating diseases.
- miRNAs represent potential therapeutic targets for treating demyelinating conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
01:25Nervous Tissue: Myelin
The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...