Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Medical Biotechnology Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Pathol Res Pract. 2023 Sep;249:154725. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154725. Epub 2023 Jul 27.
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that play crucial regulatory roles in numerous cellular processes. Recent investigations have highlighted the significant involvement of miRNA-122 (miR-122) in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases caused by diverse pathogens, encompassing viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. In the context of viral infections, miR-122 exerts regulatory control over viral replication by binding to the viral genome and modulating the host's antiviral response. For instance, in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, miR-122 restricts viral replication, while HBV, in turn, suppresses miR-122 expression. Conversely, miR-122 interacts with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome, facilitating viral replication. Regarding bacterial infections, miR-122 has been found to regulate host immune responses by influencing inflammatory cytokine production and phagocytosis. In Vibrio anguillarum infections, there is a significant reduction in miR-122 expression, contributing to the pathophysiology of bacterial infections. Toll-like receptor 14 (TLR14) has been identified as a novel target gene of miR-122, affecting inflammatory and immune responses. In the context of parasitic infections, miR-122 plays a crucial role in regulating host lipid metabolism and immune responses. For example, during Leishmania infection, miR-122-containing extracellular vesicles from liver cells are unable to enter infected macrophages, leading to a suppression of the inflammatory response. Furthermore, miR-122 exhibits promise as a potential biomarker for various infectious diseases. Its expression level in body fluids, particularly in serum and plasma, correlates with disease severity and treatment response in patients affected by HCV, HBV, and tuberculosis. This paper also discusses the potential of miR-122 as a biomarker in infectious diseases. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive and insightful overview of the emerging role of miR-122 in infectious diseases, detailing its mechanism of action and potential implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
微小 RNA（miRNAs）是一类小的非编码 RNA 分子，在许多细胞过程中发挥着关键的调节作用。最近的研究强调了 miRNA-122（miR-122）在由不同病原体引起的传染病发病机制中的重要作用，包括病毒、细菌和寄生虫感染。在病毒感染的情况下，miR-122 通过与病毒基因组结合并调节宿主的抗病毒反应来对病毒复制进行调节控制。例如，在乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染中，miR-122 限制病毒复制，而 HBV 则反过来抑制 miR-122 的表达。相反，miR-122 与丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）基因组相互作用，促进病毒复制。关于细菌感染，miR-122 通过影响炎症细胞因子的产生和吞噬作用来调节宿主的免疫反应。在鳗弧菌感染中，miR-122 的表达显著降低，导致细菌感染的病理生理学改变。Toll 样受体 14（TLR14）已被确定为 miR-122 的一个新的靶基因，影响炎症和免疫反应。在寄生虫感染的情况下，miR-122 在调节宿主脂质代谢和免疫反应中起着至关重要的作用。例如，在利什曼原虫感染期间，来自肝细胞的包含 miR-122 的细胞外囊泡无法进入感染的巨噬细胞，导致炎症反应受到抑制。此外，miR-122 作为各种传染病的潜在生物标志物具有潜力。其在体液中的表达水平，特别是在血清和血浆中，与 HCV、HBV 和结核病患者的疾病严重程度和治疗反应相关。本文还讨论了 miR-122 在传染病中的潜在应用价值。总之，本综述全面深入地介绍了 miR-122 在传染病中的新兴作用，详细说明了其作用机制及其对开发新型治疗策略的潜在意义。
