MicroRNA-664a-5p promotes neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a class of small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in the transcriptional regulation of gene expression. A number of miRNAs are known to act as key regulator of diverse processes such as neuronal differentiation. In this study, we have attempted to identify novel miRNAs related to neuronal differentiation. 15 upregulated and 8 downregulated miRNAs were identified in SH-SY5Y cells treated with all-trans retinoic acid. We further showed that one of the upregulated miRNAs, miR-664a-5p promoted neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells. Herein, we report for first time the important role of miR-664a-5p in SH-SY5Y cells. To identify miRNAs related to neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells, we examined miRNA expression levels in undifferentiated SH-SY5Y cells and differentiated SH-SY5Y cells after 2 days and 14 days of retinoic acid treatment.