Description:
<jats:p>Although regulation of stem cell homeostasis by microRNAs (miRNAs) is well studied, it is unclear how individual miRNAs genomically encoded within an organized polycistron can interact to induce an integrated phenotype. <jats:italic>miR-99a/100, let-7</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>miR-125b</jats:italic> paralogs are encoded in two tricistrons on human chromosomes 11 and 21. They are highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL), an aggressive form of leukemia with poor prognosis. Here, we show that <jats:italic>miR-99a/100∼125b</jats:italic> tricistrons are transcribed as a polycistronic message transactivated by the homeobox transcription factor <jats:italic>HOXA10</jats:italic>. Integrative analysis of global gene expression profiling, miRNA target prediction, and pathway architecture revealed that <jats:italic>miR-99a/100, let-7</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>miR-125b</jats:italic> functionally converge at the combinatorial block of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathway by targeting four receptor subunits and two SMAD signaling transducers. In addition, down-regulation of tumor suppressor genes <jats:italic>adenomatous polyposis coli</jats:italic> (<jats:italic>APC</jats:italic>)/<jats:italic>APC2</jats:italic> stabilizes active β-catenin and enhances Wnt signaling. By switching the balance between Wnt and TGFβ signaling, the concerted action of these tricistronic miRNAs promoted sustained expansion of murine and human HSCs in vitro or in vivo while favoring megakaryocytic differentiation. Hence, our study explains the high phylogenetic conservation of the <jats:italic>miR-99a/100∼125b</jats:italic> tricistrons controlling stem cell homeostasis, the deregulation of which contributes to the development of AMKL.</jats:p>