Liver-specific microRNA miR-122 enhances the replication of hepatitis C virus in nonhepatic cells.
The liver-specific microRNA miR-122 has been shown to be required for the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the hepatoma cell line Huh7. The aim of this study was to test if HCV replication can be modulated by exogenously expressed miR-122 in human embryonic kidney epithelial cells (HEK-293). Our results demonstrate that miR-122 enhances the colony formation efficiency of the HCV replicon and increases the steady-state level of HCV RNA in HEK-293 cells. Therefore, we conclude that although miR-122 is not absolutely required, it greatly enhances HCV replication in nonhepatic cells.
Drexel Institute for Biotechnology and Virology Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA. jinhong.chang@drexelmed.edu
Jinhong
J
Chang
Ju-Tao
JT
Guo
Dong
D
Jiang
Haitao
H
Guo
John M
JM
Taylor
Timothy M
TM
Block
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006367:HeLa Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014162:Transfection; D014779:Virus Replication
D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral