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Abstract
Fish retinal regeneration starts with the dedifferentiation of glia cells into progenitors. Following injury, the proneural transcription factor, Ascl1a, upregulates the pluripotency factor Lin-28, which in turn prevents let-7 microRNA-mediated inhibition of regeneration-associated genes. Unlike mammals, teleost fish mount a robust regenerative response to retinal injury that culminates in restoration of visual function1,2. This regenerative response relies on dedifferentiation of Müller glia into a cycling population of progenitor cells. However, the mechanism underlying this dedifferentiation is unknown. Here, we report that genes encoding pluripotency factors are induced following retinal injury. Interestingly, the proneural transcription factor, Ascl1a, and the pluripotency factor, Lin-28, are induced in Müller glia within 6 h following retinal injury and are necessary for Müller glia dedifferentiation. We demonstrate that Ascl1a is necessary for lin-28 expression and that Lin-28 suppresses let-7 microRNA (miRNA) expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that let-7 represses expression of regeneration-associated genes such as, ascl1a, hspd1, lin-28, oct4, pax6b and c-myc. hspd1, oct4 and c-myca exhibit basal expression in the uninjured retina and let-7 may inhibit this expression to prevent premature Müller glia dedifferentiation. The opposing actions of Lin-28 and let-7 miRNAs on Müller glia differentiation and dedifferentiation are similar to that of embryonic stem cells3 and suggest novel targets for stimulating Müller glia dedifferentiation and retinal regeneration in mammals.Cite this article
Ramachandran, R., Fausett, B. & Goldman, D. Ascl1a regulates Müller glia dedifferentiation and retinal regeneration through a Lin-28-dependent, let-7 microRNA signalling pathway. Nat Cell Biol 12, 1101–1107 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2115 