MicroRNA 122 Affects both the Initiation and the Maintenance of Hepatitis C Virus Infections
Mamata Panigrahi, Patricia A. Thibault, Joyce A. Wilson
Abstract
The mechanism by which miR-122 promotes the HCV life cycle is not well understood, and a role in directly promoting genome amplification is still debated. In this study, we have shown that miR-122 increases the rate of viral RNA accumulation and promotes the establishment of an HCV infection in a greater number of cells than in the absence of miR-122. However, we also confirm a minor role in promoting ongoing virus replication and propose a role in the initiation of new replication complexes throughout a virus infection. This study has implications for the use of anti-miR-122 as a potential HCV therapy.
Topics & Concepts
BiologyInternal ribosome entry siteRepliconVirologyViral replicationHepatitis C virusNS2-3 proteaseVirusRNAUntranslated regionViral life cyclemicroRNAPopulationTranslation (biology)HepacivirusGeneFlavivirusRNA virusGene expressionCellCell cycleViral entryRNA-dependent RNA polymeraseNS3FlaviviridaeRibosomeRegulation of gene expressionMicroRNA in disease regulationHepatitis C virus researchCircular RNAs in diseases