[MicroRNA in the regulation of nervous system development]

Several types of molecules, including the small non-coding RNAs, are involved in the precision regulation of neural development. The expression of microRNAs appears in a specific spatialtemporal sequence during the neural development, and abnormal expression may lead to neural dysplasia. MicroRNAs also play important roles in the regulation of cell biological behaviors in terms of survival, proliferation and differentiation. Neural stem cells are the mother cell of the nervous system. The proliferation, differentiation and migration of neural stem cells are tightly controlled so as to generate appropriate number and phenotype of daughter cells to ensure normal neural development. MicroRNAs are involved in the regulation of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation via affecting the expression and function of their target mRNAs.