MiR-125a Is a critical modulator for neutrophil development

MicroRNAs are universal post-transcriptional regulators in genomes. They have the ability of buffering gene expressional programs, contributing to robustness of biological systems and playing important roles in development, physiology and diseases. Here, we identified a microRNA, miR-125a, as a positive regulator of granulopoiesis. MiR125a knockout mice show reduced infiltration of neutrophils in the lung and alleviated tissue destruction after endotoxin challenge as a consequence of decreased neutrophil numbers. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this significant reduction of neutrophils was due to impaired development of granulocyte precursors to mature neutrophils in an intrinsic manner. We showed that Socs3, a critical repressor for granulopoiesis, was a target of miR-125a. Overall, our study revealed a new microRNA regulating granulocyte development and supported a model in which miR-125a acted as a fine-tuner of granulopoiesis.