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MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
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Activation of an oncogenic microRNA cistron by provirus integration

Clifford L Wang1, Bruce B Wang, Gábor Bartha

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. cliff.wang@stanford.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|November 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Retroviral mutagenesis can activate oncogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) by integrating near miRNA genes, leading to tumor development. This study highlights retroviral mutagenesis as a powerful method for discovering new oncogenic miRNAs.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Retroviruses are known to induce tumors by integrating near host protooncogenes or tumor suppressor genes.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in gene regulation and can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether retroviral mutagenesis can lead to the activation of oncogenic microRNAs (miRNAs).
  • To explore the potential of retroviral mutagenesis as a tool for discovering novel oncogenic miRNAs.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of over 2,500 mice with the SL3-3 murine leukemia virus.
  • Analysis of tumor genomes to identify provirus integration sites near miRNA genes.
  • Quantitative real-time PCR to measure miRNA expression levels in tumors.

Main Results:

  • Provirus integrations were found near or within the mir-17-92 microRNA (miRNA) cistron in 22 out of the resulting tumors.
  • Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed increased expression of this miRNA in the tumors.
  • This indicates that retroviral infection can induce the expression of oncogenic miRNAs.

Conclusions:

  • Retroviral mutagenesis can activate oncogenic miRNAs, contributing to tumor formation.
  • Retroviral mutagenesis serves as an effective strategy for the discovery of novel oncogenic miRNAs.

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