Both MicroRNA-155 and Virus-Encoded MiR-155 Ortholog Regulate TLR3 Expression

MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) has been as an important controller of TLR3 signalling. However, the interactions between miR-155 and TLR3 are poorly understood. Here, we focused on the regulation of the relationship between miR-155 and TLR3. Sequence analyses and firefly luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-155 target were present in the coding sequences (CDS) of TLR3. And the expression of the TLR3 protein could be inhibited by a miR-155 mimic or by a virally encoded orthologue in chick embryo fibroblast cells. Notably, endogenous miR-155 induction emerged a negative regulation on TLR3 expression in TLR2, 4 and 7 ligands stimulated HD11 cells, an avian macrophage cell line. Moreover, treatment with the miR-155 antagomir increased TLR3 levels while significantly decreased the abundance of TLR3 with miR-155 agomir. In addition, our data showed that miR-155 could inhibit IFN-β production possibly though TLR3 signal pathway. All these findings might reveal a new mechanism by which miR-155 can regulate the TLR3 immune response.