Expression and function of microRNAs encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are widely used by animal and plant cells to posttranscriptionally regulate cellular gene expression, but this regulatory mechanism can also be used by pathogenic viruses for the same purpose. It is now well established that numerous miRNAs are expressed by a wide range of pathogenic herpesviruses, although their mRNA targets and role in the viral life cycle remain unclear. Here, we discuss what is currently known about the expression and function of the 12 miRNAs that are expressed by the pathogenic gamma herpesvirus Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus in latently infected human B cells.