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Updated: Oct 17, 2025

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
Published on: February 6, 2017
MicroRNA-155 and antiviral immune responses
Abdollah Jafarzadeh1, Alma Naseri2, Layla Shojaie3
1Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Abstract:
The microRNA, miR-155 regulates both adaptive and innate immune responses. In viral infections, miR-155 can affect both innate immunity (interferon response, natural killer cell activity, and macrophage polarization) and adaptive immunity (including generation of anti-viral antibodies, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, Th17, Th2, Th1, Tfh and Treg cells). In many viral infections, the proper and timely regulation of miR-155 expression is critical for the induction of an effective anti-virus immune response and viral clearance without any harmful immunopathologic consequences. MiR-155 may also exert pro-viral effects, mainly through the inhibition of the anti-viral interferon response. Thus, dysregulated expression of miR-155 can result in virus persistence and disruption of the normal response to viral infections. This review provides a thorough discussion of the role of miR-155 in immune responses and immunopathologic reactions during viral infections, and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target.
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