Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and UF Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, 1376 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Curr Opin Microbiol. 2010 Aug;13(4):540-5. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2010.05.017. Epub 2010 Jun 25.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNA molecules approximately 22 nucleotides in length that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by complementary binding to target mRNAs. MiRNAs have been identified in a diverse range of both metazoan and plant species. Functionally, miRNAs modulate multiple cellular processes including development, hematopoiesis, immunity, and oncogenesis. More recently, DNA viruses were found to encode and express miRNAs during host infection. Although the functions of most viral miRNAs are not well understood, early analysis of target genes pointed to immune modulation suggesting that viral miRNAs are a component of the immune evasion repertoire, which facilitates viral persistence. In addition to directly targeting immune functions, viral encoded miRNAs contribute to immune evasion by targeting proapoptotic genes, and in the case of herpesviruses, by controlling viral latency. Here we summarize the recently discovered targets of viral miRNAs and discuss the complex nature of this novel emerging regulatory mechanism.
微小 RNA（miRNA）是一类约 22 个核苷酸长度的非编码 RNA 分子，通过与靶 mRNA 的互补结合来进行转录后基因表达调控。miRNA 在各种后生动物和植物物种中都有被发现。在功能上，miRNA 调节包括发育、造血、免疫和肿瘤发生在内的多种细胞过程。最近发现，DNA 病毒在宿主感染过程中编码和表达 miRNA。虽然大多数病毒 miRNA 的功能尚未得到很好的理解，但对靶基因的早期分析表明，免疫调节表明病毒 miRNA 是免疫逃避机制的一部分，有助于病毒的持续存在。除了直接靶向免疫功能外，病毒编码的 miRNA 通过靶向促凋亡基因，以及在疱疹病毒的情况下，通过控制病毒潜伏来有助于免疫逃避。在这里，我们总结了最近发现的病毒 miRNA 的靶基因，并讨论了这一新兴调控机制的复杂性。
