microRNA-1 and microRNA-206 regulate skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation and differentiation by repressing Pax7

JF Chen, Y Tao, J Li, Z Deng, Z Yan, X Xiao… - Journal of Cell …, 2010 - rupress.org
JF Chen, Y Tao, J Li, Z Deng, Z Yan, X Xiao, DZ Wang
Journal of Cell Biology, 2010rupress.org
Skeletal muscle satellite cells are adult stem cells responsible for postnatal skeletal muscle
growth and regeneration. Paired-box transcription factor Pax7 plays a central role in satellite
cell survival, self-renewal, and proliferation. However, how Pax7 is regulated during the
transition from proliferating satellite cells to differentiating myogenic progenitor cells is
largely unknown. In this study, we find that miR-1 and miR-206 are sharply up-regulated
during satellite cell differentiation and down-regulated after muscle injury. We show that miR …
Skeletal muscle satellite cells are adult stem cells responsible for postnatal skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. Paired-box transcription factor Pax7 plays a central role in satellite cell survival, self-renewal, and proliferation. However, how Pax7 is regulated during the transition from proliferating satellite cells to differentiating myogenic progenitor cells is largely unknown. In this study, we find that miR-1 and miR-206 are sharply up-regulated during satellite cell differentiation and down-regulated after muscle injury. We show that miR-1 and miR-206 facilitate satellite cell differentiation by restricting their proliferative potential. We identify Pax7 as one of the direct regulatory targets of miR-1 and miR-206. Inhibition of miR-1 and miR-206 substantially enhances satellite cell proliferation and increases Pax7 protein level in vivo. Conversely, sustained Pax7 expression as a result of the loss of miR-1 and miR-206 repression elements at its 3′ untranslated region significantly inhibits myoblast differentiation. Therefore, our experiments suggest that microRNAs participate in a regulatory circuit that allows rapid gene program transitions from proliferation to differentiation.
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