Epithelial progenitor cells of the embryonic lung and the role of microRNAs in their proliferation.
Journal Article
The entire epithelium of the lung is generated from a small pool of undifferentiated progenitor cells. At least during the early stages of development these reside in the distal tips of the embryonic lung. They respond to multiple signals from the surrounding mesenchyme and play a critical role as morphogenetic organizing centers. In addition, they proliferate rapidly and give rise to daughter cells that differentiate into all the specialized epithelial cells types of the newborn lung. Despite the importance of the progenitor cells, we still know relatively little about the mechanisms controlling their proliferation, morphogenesis, and developmental fate. Here, we discuss new data on the potential role of microRNAs in co-coordinately regulating multiple signaling pathways in embryonic progenitor cells. In particular, our recent transgenic experiments suggest that microRNAs encoded by the miR-17-92 cluster positively promote proliferation of epithelial progenitor cells and inhibit their differentiation. We speculate on how this information might be exploited therapeutically in the long term.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Lu, Y; Okubo, T; Rawlins, E; Hogan, BLM
Published Date
- April 15, 2008
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 5 / 3
Start / End Page
- 300 - 304
PubMed ID
- 18403323
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC2645240
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1546-3222
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1513/pats.200710-162DR
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States