Orchestrated Role of microRNAs in Skin Development and Regeneration

Abstract

MicroRNA (miRNA)-dependent control of gene expression is one of the important components of epigenetics that plays a fundamental role in the balancing and fine-tuning of lineage-specific differentiation programs in many organs including skin. Skin development is governed by bi-directional interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme. During skin embryogenesis, multi-potent progenitors within the single-layered surface epithelium differentiate to form the multi-layered epidermis and its appendages, including the hair follicle. Skin and hair follicle development is tightly regulated by a balance of gene activation and silencing. miRNAs play indispensable roles in the formation of functional skin and its appendages, by orchestrating gene expression programs in a spatiotemporally specific manner, and also play important roles in a variety of skin diseases miRNAs. Study of the non-coding genome not only advances our understanding of the fundamental biological roles of miRNAs in healthy organisms, but will further allow for the development of novel therapeutic modalities involving targeting non-coding RNAs for many diseases including skin pathologies.