MicroRNA-mediated regulation of proliferation, lineage differentiation, and apoptosis in neural stem cells

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells with self-renewal capacity, able to differentiate into all neural lineages of the central nervous system, including neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes; thus, their proliferation and differentiation are essential for embryonic neurodevelopment and adult brain homoeostasis. Dysregulation in these processes is implicated in neurological disorders, highlighting the need to elucidate how NSCs proliferate and differentiate to clarify the mechanisms of neurogenesis and uncover potential therapeutic targets. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression involved in many aspects of nervous system development and function. Multiple studies have shown that miRNAs control the balance between self-renewal and differentiation during development through transcriptional networks and fine-tuned signalling pathways. They also regulate key biological processes, including cell fate determination, developmental timing, neurogenesis, gliogenesis, and apoptosis. Transcriptomic analyses and high-resolution profiling have revealed temporally and spatially restricted miRNA expression patterns in NSCs and their progeny, suggesting highly context-dependent regulatory functions. Here, we provide an integrated overview of recent advances in miRNA biology relevant to NSC maintenance and lineage specification, with a focus on the mechanistic understanding of miRNA roles in neuronal differentiation, glial development, and programmed cell death across neural development.