Up-regulation of miR-10a-5p expression inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells by targeting Chl1

• miR-10a-5p is significantly upregulated in retinoic acid-induced neural tube defects (NTDs), leading to reduced neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. • Chl1 is identified as a direct target of miR-10a-5p, and its downregulation mimics the effects of miR-10a-5p overexpression on NSC behavior. • The miR-10a-5p/Chl1 axis inhibits the ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathway, which is crucial for NSC growth and differentiation. • Restoring Chl1 expression or activating ERK with honokiol reverses the inhibitory effects, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for NTDs.