Regulation of skeletal myogenesis by microRNAs

Skeletal muscle development is a highly organized process controlled by evolutionarily conserved networks of transcription factors, transferrable signaling molecules, and noncoding RNAs that coordinate the expression of large numbers of genes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as prominent players of multiple biological processes by silence of specific mRNAs or by suppression of protein translation. It has become to be clear cumulatively that miRNAs control of expression of gene targets are particularly important during skeletal myogenesis. Signaling pathways, especially IGF/AKT/mTOR pathway and TGF-beta signaling, have also determined to act as critical regulators in the regulation of myogenic program. In the last decades, growing evidence has seen a rapid expansion of our knowledge of miRNA-mediated control of expression of target genes and signaling pathways, in which miRNAs coordinately regulate myogenic process through their targets or through signaling pathways. Here, we summarize the current findings of miRNAs and signaling pathways in the regulation of skeletal myogenesis, focusing on miRNAs' target genes and IGF/AKT/mTOR pathway and TGF-beta signaling.