let-7 miRNAs Can Act through Notch to Regulate Human Gliogenesis

•let-7 miRNAs influence developmental maturity of neural progenitors•let-7 miRNAs act through HMGA2 and NOTCH to regulate gliogenesis•HMGA2 expression regulates access of NICD to HES5 promoter•Induction of let-7 miRNAs can accelerate oligodendrogenesis

SummaryIt is clear that neural differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells generates cells that are developmentally immature. Here, we show that the let-7 plays a functional role in the developmental decision making of human neural progenitors, controlling whether these cells make neurons or glia. Through gain- and loss-of-function studies on both tissue and pluripotent derived cells, our data show that let-7 specifically regulates decision making in this context by regulation of a key chromatin-associated protein, HMGA2. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the let-7/HMGA2 circuit acts on HES5, a NOTCH effector and well-established node that regulates fate decisions in the nervous system. These data link the let-7 circuit to NOTCH signaling and suggest that this interaction serves to regulate human developmental progression.

Graphical AbstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide