Defective erythroid differentiation in miR-451 mutant mice mediated by 14-3-3ζ

Erythrocyte formation occurs throughout life in response to cytokine signaling. We show that microRNA-451 (miR-451) regulates erythropoiesis in vivo. Mice lacking miR-451 display a reduction in hematrocrit, an erythroid differentiation defect, and ineffective erythropoiesis in response to oxidative stress. 14-3-3 zeta, an intracellular regulator of cytokine signaling that is repressed by miR-451, is up-regulated in miR-451(-/-) erythroblasts, and inhibition of 14-3-3 zeta rescues their differentiation defect. These findings reveal an essential role of 14-3-3 zeta as a mediator of the proerythroid differentiation actions of miR-451, and highlight the therapeutic potential of miR-451 inhibitors.