MicroRNA function in megakaryocytes

Abstract

Megakaryocytes (MKs), the largest cells in the bone marrow, are generated from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in a sequential process called megakaryocytopoiesis in which HSCs undergo MK-progenitor (MP) commitment and maturation to terminally differentiated MK. Megakaryocytopoiesis is controlled by a complex network of bone marrow niche factors. Traditionally, the studies on megakaryocytopoiesis were focused on different cytokines, growth factors and transcription factors as the regulators of megakaryocytopoiesis. Over the past two decades many research groups have uncovered the key role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in megakaryocytopoiesis. miRNAs are a class of small length non-coding RNAs which play key regulatory role in cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation and development and are also known to be involved in disease development. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of miRNAs which have changed expression during megakaryocytopoiesis, also focuses on miRNAs which are differentially regulated during developmental maturation of MKs. Further, we aimed to discuss potential mechanisms of miRNAs-mediated regulation underlying megakaryocytopoiesis and developmental maturation of MKs.

Keywords:

• Megakaryocyte
• miRNA

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) grants ‒ Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award (IYBA), Rapid Grant for Young Investigators (RGYI), Human Developmental and Disease Biology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and University Grants Commission (UGC) grants of Government of India. We appreciate the funding in form of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and UGC Fellowships from Government of India.

Disclosure of conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology[IYBA];Department of Biotechnology,Ministry of Science and Technology [RGYI];Science and Engineering Research Board [SB/EMEQ-114/2013];