Interplay of transcription factors and microRNAs during embryonic hematopoiesis

• DOI: 10.1007/s11427-016-0168-0
• Publication Date: 2016-11-11T08:07:29Z
• Authors: Xueping Gong; Ruihua Chao; Pengxiang Wang; Xiaoli Huang; Jingjing Zhang; Xiaozhou Zhu; Yanyang Zhang; Xue Yang; Chao Hou; Xiangjun Ji; Tieliu Shi; Yuan Wang
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all); Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all); Embryonic Development; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Cell Differentiation; Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Cell Line; Epigenesis, Genetic; Hematopoiesis; Mice; MicroRNAs; 03 medical and health sciences; Environmental Science(all); Animals; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Transcription Factors

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are localized in the bone marrow of adult mammals, come from hematopoietic endothelium during embryonic stages. Although the basic processes of HSC generation and differentiation have been described in the past, the epigenetic regulation of embryonic hematopoiesis remains to be fully described. Here, by utilizing an in vitro differentiation system of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we identified more than 20 microRNAs that were highly enriched in embryonic hematopoietic cells, including some (e.g. miR-10b, miR-15b, and miR-27a) with previously unknown functions in blood formation. Luciferase and gene expression assays further revealed combinational binding and regulation of these microRNAs by key transcription factors in blood cells. Finally, bioinformatics and functional analyses supported an interactive regulatory control between transcription factors and microRNAs in hematopoiesis.