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09:05
MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
Published on: February 6, 2017
MicroRNAs and human retroviruses.
Laurent Houzet1, Kuan-Teh Jeang
1National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. lhouzet@mail.nih.gov
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|June 7, 2011
Summary
Host microRNAs (miRNAs) combat viral infections, but viruses encode suppressors to evade this defense. This review examines how miRNAs, viral RNA silencing suppressors, and host miRNA changes impact HIV-1 and HTLV-1 infections.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
- Genetics
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of mammalian cellular processes.
- Host miRNAs play a role in restricting viral infections.
- Viruses have evolved mechanisms, including RNA silencing suppressors (RSS) and viral miRNAs, to counteract host miRNA activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the interplay between host miRNAs and viral replication.
- To highlight examples from Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) and Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1).
- To discuss host miRNA targeting of viruses, viral RSS, and miRNA profile alterations in infected cells.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on studies of HIV-1 and HTLV-1.
- Analysis of existing research on host-virus miRNA interactions.
- Synthesis of findings on viral RNA silencing suppressors and host miRNA modulation.
Main Results:
- Host miRNAs can target and inhibit viral replication.
- Viruses encode RSS to antagonize host miRNA-mediated antiviral responses.
- Viral infection leads to significant changes in host cell miRNA expression profiles.
- Both HIV-1 and HTLV-1 interactions with host miRNAs are complex, involving viral encoding of suppressors and modulation of host miRNAs.
Conclusions:
- The intricate relationship between host miRNAs and viruses like HIV-1 and HTLV-1 is crucial for viral pathogenesis and host defense.
- Understanding these interactions offers potential therapeutic targets for viral infections.
- Further research into viral RNA silencing mechanisms and host miRNA responses is warranted.
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