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Epstein-Barr virus circRNAome as host miRNA sponge regulates virus infection, cell cycle, and oncogenesis

Yanwei Qiao1, Xuequn Zhao1, Jun Liu1

  • 1Department of Infectious Disease, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Bioengineered
|November 1, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) circular RNAs (circRNAs) sponge microRNAs (miRNAs), leading to increased expression of target genes. This mechanism contributes to the development of EBV-associated human cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widespread oncogenic virus implicated in numerous human cancers.
  • EBV proteins and miRNAs are known contributors to malignancy.
  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) encoded by EBV have recently been identified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional role of EBV-encoded circRNAs in EBV-associated malignancies.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which EBV circRNAs influence gene expression and cellular processes.

Main Methods:

  • R-resistance RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify EBV circRNAs.
  • miRNA sequencing (miRNA-seq) to detect miRNA expression in EBV-infected cells.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to construct regulatory networks between circRNAs, miRNAs, and target genes.

Main Results:

  • A total of 56 miRNAs were identified as being sponged by the EBV circRNAome.
  • EBV infection led to the down-regulation of 18 and 5 miRNAs in host B and epithelial cells, respectively.
  • A regulatory network involving five miRNAs and 1414 target genes was constructed, with most targets up-regulated in EBV-infected cells.

Conclusions:

  • EBV circRNAs act as miRNA sponges, promoting the up-regulated expression of their target genes.
  • This circRNA-miRNA-target axis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of EBV-associated malignancies.
  • These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying EBV-driven cancers.
Keywords:
CircrnaEBVcancercell cycleherpes virusmiRNAoncogenesis

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