Genética Humana e Embriologia

MicroRNAs: A New Class of Master Regulators of Adipogenesis

Abstract

Carlo Mercado, Gabriel Eades and Qun Zhou

Adipogenesis is the process by which Mesenchymal Stem cells commit to become adipocyte precursor cells, which will later differentiate into mature adipocytes following exposure to differentiation factors. The transcriptional programs involved in the differentiation process have been carefully studied. Recently, small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, have been found to play critical roles throughout the adipogenic process. MicroRNAs have been identified that are involved in promoting or inhibiting adipogenesis by targeting anti- or pro-adipogenic factors and cell cycle regulatory proteins. Here, we will discuss the latest discoveries regarding microRNA regulation of adipocyte differentiation.