Hsa-let-7c controls the committed differentiation of IGF-1-treated mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental pulps by targeting IGF-1R via the MAPK pathways

Abstract

Bone formation: how microRNA controls transformation of stem cells A small non-coding RNA molecule can control transformation of stem cells into bone cells by interrupting growth factor signals. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), the most abundant growth factor in bone, was known to trigger stem cells to transform into bone cells. The microRNA let-7c, primarily known as a tumor suppressor, was also known to be involved in bone generation. However, the interactions between the two molecules were poorly understood. Jinhua Yu at Nanjing Medical University in China and co-workers treated stem cells collected from tooth pulp with let-7c, and then assessed their mineralization, which indicates formation of bone. They found that increasing let-7c concentrations inhibited transformation to bone by blocking the IGF-1 signal. Deletion of let-7c had the opposite effect. These findings may facilitate further research in tooth engineering and bone reconstruction.