Micro RNA control of myelopoiesis and the differentiation block in acute myeloid leukaemia

Abstract •Introduction •MicroRNA control of normal haematopoiesis ‐Haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) ‐Common myeloid progenitor (CMP) and initiation of myelopoiesis ‐Monocyte/macrophage differentiation ‐Granulocytic differentiation ‐Erythroid/megakaryocytic differentiation ‐MicroRNA control of malignant differentiation ‐MicroRNAs associated with abnormal monocytic differentiation ‐MicroRNAs associated with abnormal granulocytic differentiation ‐MicroRNAs associated with abnormal erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation •Conclusion In the relatively short period of time since their discovery, microRNAs have been shown to control many important cellular functions such as cell differentiation, growth, proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, microRNAs have been demonstrated as key drivers of many malignancies and can function as either tumour suppressors or oncogenes. The haematopoietic system is not outside the realm of microRNA control with microRNAs controlling aspects of stem cell and progenitor self‐renewal and differentiation, with many, if not all, haematological disorders associated with aberrant microRNA expression and function. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of microRNA control of haematopoiesis and detail the evidence for the contribution and clinical relevance of aberrant microRNA function to the characteristic block of differentiation in acute myeloid leukaemia.