Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Isolation, Transfection, and Culture of Primary Human Monocytes
09:13

Isolation, Transfection, and Culture of Primary Human Monocytes

Published on: December 16, 2019

MicroRNAs and HIV-1: complex interactions

Zachary Klase1, Laurent Houzet, Kuan-Teh Jeang

  • 1Molecular Virology Section, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|October 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms, including microRNAs (miRNAs), are crucial for cellular defense against viruses like HIV-1. This review explores how miRNAs regulate HIV-1 replication and how HIV-1 infection impacts cellular miRNA expression.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved biological process vital for gene regulation and cellular defense.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key components of the RNAi pathway in mammals, mediating gene silencing.
  • Viral infections, such as HIV-1, can interact with host cell machinery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the regulatory roles of cellular miRNAs in HIV-1 replication.
  • To examine how HIV-1 infection affects cellular miRNA expression profiles.
  • To discuss the complex interplay between HIV-1 and host miRNAs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating miRNA involvement in HIV-1.
  • Analysis of findings on miRNA-mediated regulation of viral replication.
  • Synthesis of data on HIV-1's impact on cellular miRNA expression.

Main Results:

  • Cellular miRNAs can modulate the replication of HIV-1 within host cells.
  • HIV-1 infection leads to alterations in the expression levels of specific cellular miRNAs.
  • These interactions suggest a complex regulatory network between the virus and host miRNAs.

Conclusions:

  • miRNAs are significant players in the host-pathogen interaction during HIV-1 infection.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies against HIV-1.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and implications of miRNA dysregulation in HIV-1 pathogenesis.

More Related Videos

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism09:05

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism

Published on: February 6, 2017

A Rat Model of EcoHIV Brain Infection08:48

A Rat Model of EcoHIV Brain Infection

Published on: January 21, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...