MicroRNAs in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are adult stem cells that can expand noticeably in culture and are identified in almost every tissue type including early stages of development as well as adult tissues. This wide-ranging distribution of sources along with their genetic stability, compatibility with tissue engineering principles, reproducibility of features, immunoregulatory properties and multilineage potential has led them to be considered as prospective curative candidates for numerous diseases and degenerative purposes. MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of small non-coding single-stranded RNAs of 19-23 nucleotides that originate from a precursor of approximately 70 nucleotides. Studies with stem cells show a complicated system of miRs regulating main transcription factors and other genes, which sequentially define cell fate. In particular, newly recognized miRs differentiation signatures for MSC designate the presence of distinctive miR patterns in progenitors and terminally differentiated cells, suggesting that such signatures may act as a marker to delineate and track rare cell populations. Recently, several studies have reported the ability of miRs to regulate the differentiation, identity, behavior and self-renewal of MSC. Regulation of MSC homing, reparative and therapeutic efficacies by miRs has been also reported. The overall goal of this chapter is to shed some light on the regulatory role of miRs in different MSC, as well as the putative role of miRs in regulating the therapeutic efficacy of MSC in the pathophysiology of several diseases.