MicroRNA-mediated regulation of the neurogenic-to-gliogenic competence transition of neural stem/progenitor cells

Multipotent neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) produce various types of neurons and glial cells during the development of the central nervous system (CNS); however, NSPCs are not always able to generate all types of neural cells. The formation of complex neural networks relies on proper cytogenesis from NSPCs, which is under strict spatiotemporal regulation by intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. The neurogenesis-to-gliogenesis switch, a major event during CNS development, is largely dependent on the cell-autonomous temporal specification of NSPCs. The results of several previous studies suggest that developmental stage-dependent changes in the epigenetic status of proneural and astrocytic genes correlate with the temporal identity transition of developing NSPCs. These changes are related to alterations in the responsiveness of NSPCs to extrinsic neurogenic or gliogenic factors. Here, we discuss our recent findings that microRNA-mediated regulation of competence and relationships between multi-layered molecular regulatory systems control the temporal specification of NSPCs during CNS development.