Major Role for Cellular MicroRNAs, Long Noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and the Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded BART lncRNA during Tumor Growth <i>In Vivo</i>
Rachel Hood Edwards, Nancy Raab‐Traub
Abstract
This study identified the total effects of EBV and a viral long noncoding RNA (BART lncRNA) on cellular RNA expression when grown as cells in culture and when grown as tumors in immunodeficient mice. The effects on cellular mRNA expression, lncRNA expression, and cellular and viral miR expression were determined using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics functional analysis. Many cellular growth pathways that are activated during growth in culture are decreased during growth as tumors. This study shows that these changes in expression are accompanied by induction of cellular-growth-inhibitory miRs. However, in the EBV tumors and in tumors expressing the BART lncRNA, many of the known targets of the inhibitory miRs are not affected. Regions of strong homology to the seed sequences of these miRs were identified in the BART lncRNA. These findings suggest that the BART lncRNA functions as a sponge for growth-inhibitory miRs.