Loss of the neurodevelopmental disease-associated gene miR-146a impairs neural progenitor differentiation and causes learning and memory deficits

ConclusionOur results show thatmiR-146a expression is critical for correct differentiation of neural stem cell during brain development and provide for the first time a strong argument for a postnatal role ofmiR-146a in regulating hippocampal-dependent memory. Furthermore, the demonstration that theMir146a−/− mouse recapitulates several aspects reported in DBD patients, including impaired neurogenesis, abnormal brain anatomy, and working and spatial memories deficits, provides convincing evidence that the dysregulation ofmiR146a contributes to the pathogenesis of DBDs.
Source: Molecular Autism - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research