Swine MicroRNAs <i>ssc-miR-221-3p</i> and <i>ssc-miR-222</i> Restrict the Cross-Species Infection of Avian Influenza Virus
Jingwei Song, Honglei Sun, Haoran Sun, Zhimin Jiang, Junda Zhu, Chenxi Wang, Weihua Gao, Tong Wang, Juan Pu, Yipeng Sun, Hsiang‐Yu Yuan, Jinhua Liu
Abstract
The host range of an influenza A virus is determined by species-specific interactions between virus and host cell factors. Host miRNAs can regulate influenza A virus replication; however, the role of miRNAs in host species specificity is unclear. Here, we show that the induced expression of ssc-miR-221-3p and ssc-miR-222 in swine cells is modulated by NF-κB P65 phosphorylation in response to AIV infection but not swine influenza virus infection. ssc-miR-221-3p and ssc-miR-222 exerted antiviral function via targeting viral RNAs and causing apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of HMBOX1 in host cells. These findings uncover miRNAs as a host range restriction factor that limits cross-species infection of influenza A virus.