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MicroRNAs01:22

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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...
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RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
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RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
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MICRORNAS REGULATED BY PREGNANCY TARGET THE HIV INTERACTOME.

P F T Cezar-de-Mello, J Dreyfuss, P Chen

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    Pregnancy alters microRNA (miRNA) expression, influencing host genes and potentially increasing HIV susceptibility. These pregnancy-associated miRNAs regulate key genes interacting with HIV proteins, impacting viral replication and host immunity.

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    Area of Science:

    • Immunology
    • Molecular Biology
    • Virology

    Background:

    • Innate immunity and HIV risk are linked to reproductive hormones, pregnancy, and lactation.
    • Molecular mechanisms connecting these factors to HIV susceptibility are not well understood.
    • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of immune responses and host-virus interactions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate if physiological changes during pregnancy modulate systemic miRNA expression.
    • To determine if these miRNAs regulate host genes involved in HIV interactions.
    • To assess the potential impact on HIV susceptibility during pregnancy.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of 174 serum samples from 88 participants across pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and breastfeeding states using HTG EdgeSeq.
    • Identification of differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in pregnancy compared to pre-pregnancy and breastfeeding states.
    • Gene target validation, pathway enrichment analysis (Cytoscape/ClueGO), and protein-protein interaction network analysis (cytoHubba).

    Main Results:

    • Identified 29 upregulated and 131 downregulated miRNAs in pregnancy.
    • Enriched pathways included Adaptive Immune Response, Hippo Signaling, and Cellular Senescence.
    • Pregnancy-enriched pathways overlapped significantly with the HIV-host interactome, identifying 47 hub genes, including HLA-A, BCL2L1, EIF2AK2, PTEN, and CYCS, which interact with HIV proteins like Tat and gp120.

    Conclusions:

    • Pregnancy-induced systemic miRNAs regulate key host genes involved in HIV-host interactions.
    • These miRNA-regulated hub genes play a central role in viral evasion of host immunity.
    • Findings support the hypothesis that pregnancy-driven miRNAs influence HIV susceptibility.