Evidence for a single microRNA (miRNA) that can efficiently differentiate multipotent stem cells into a specific lineage or regulate direct reprogramming of cells into an alternative cell fate has been elusive. Two miRNAs, miR-145 and miR-143, are now shown to be co-transcribed in multipotent cardiac progenitors before becoming localized to smooth muscle cells. miR-145 was found to be necessary for myocardin-induced reprogramming of adult fibroblasts and sufficient to induce differentiation of multipotent neural crest stem cells.
- Kimberly R. Cordes
- Neil T. Sheehy
- Deepak Srivastava