TY - JOUR TI - Multifaceted roles of microRNAs: From motor neuron generation in embryos to degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy AU - Chen, Tai-Heng AU - Chen, Jun-An A2 - Bronner, Marianne E VL - 8 PY - 2019 DA - 2019/11/18 SP - e50848 C1 - eLife 2019;8:e50848 DO - 10.7554/eLife.50848 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.50848 AB - Two crucial questions in neuroscience are how neurons establish individual identity in the developing nervous system and why only specific neuron subtypes are vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases. In the central nervous system, spinal motor neurons serve as one of the best-characterized cell types for addressing these two questions. In this review, we dissect these questions by evaluating the emerging role of regulatory microRNAs in motor neuron generation in developing embryos and their potential contributions to neurodegenerative diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Given recent promising results from novel microRNA-based medicines, we discuss the potential applications of microRNAs for clinical assessments of SMA disease progression and treatment. KW - Developmental Biology KW - Human Biology and Medicine KW - Neuroscience KW - Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -