miR-26a is required for skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration in mice

Multiple microRNAs are known to be induced during the differentiation of myoblasts to myotubes. Yet, experiments in animals have not provided clear evidence for the requirement of most of these microRNAs in myogenic differentiation in vivo. miR-26a is induced during skeletal muscle differentiation and is predicted to target a well-known inhibitor of differentiation, the transforming growth factor beta/bone morphogenetic protein (TGF-beta/BMP) signaling pathway. Here we show that exogenous miR-26a promotes differentiation of myoblasts, while inhibition of miR-26a by antisense oligonucleotides or by Tough-Decoys delays differentiation. miR-26a targets the transcription factors Smad1 and Smad4, critical for the TGF-beta/BMP pathway, and expression of microRNA-resistant forms of these transcription factors inhibits differentiation. Injection of antagomirs specific to miR-26a into neonatal mice derepressed both Smad expression and activity and consequently inhibited skeletal muscle differentiation. In addition, miR-26a is induced during skeletal muscle regeneration after injury. Inhibiting miR-26a in the tibialis anterior muscles through the injection of adeno-associated virus expressing a Tough-Decoy targeting miR-26a prevents Smad down-regulation and delays regeneration. These findings provide evidence for the requirement of miR-26a for skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration in vivo.