title: Mir-194 is a hepatocyte gate keeper hindering HCV entry through targeting CD81 receptor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The tetraspanin CD81 is one of the main receptors involved in hepatitis C virus entry. Herein, we aimed to explore the role of microRNAs in regulating CD81 receptor expression and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bioinformatics analysis was carried out to select potential mircroRNAs that binds CD81 3'untranslated region. Liver biopsies taken from 28 HCV genotype- 4 patients and 10 healthy donors were screened. Naïve, JFH1 and ED43/JFH1- infected- Huh7 cells were transfected with mimics and inhibitors followed by analyzing CD81 protein and mRNA expression. This was done using flow cytometry and Q-RT PCR, respectively. HCV entry into Huh7 cells was investigated post-transfection. Binding confirmation was done using luciferase reporter vector harboring wild/mutant target sites of microRNA. The impact of Epigallocatechin-gallate on modulating microRNA/CD81 expression was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bioinformatics revealed that CD81 is a potential down-stream target for miR-194. A significant inverse correlation was found between miR-194 and CD81 expression in liver biopsies of HCV patients. Forcing the expression of miR-194 showed a down-regulation of CD81 protein, mRNA expression and significantly abrogated the HCV infectivity of Huh7 cells. Stimulation with EGCG enhanced mir-194 expression and down-regulated CD81 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that mir-194 hinders HCV entry through targeting CD81 receptors.
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, 11835, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Radwa Yehia
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Mekky
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, 11835, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nada Magdy
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: El-Ekiaby
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Ain Shams University, Khalifa El-Maamon St, Abbasiya square, 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed Tarif
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hamza
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, 11835, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Noha Mousaad
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Elemam
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University Kasr El-Aini St, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University Kasr El-Aini St, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Gamal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esmat
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, 11835, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: ahmed.abdel-aziz@guc.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Ahmed Ihab
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
mesh_terms: D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D019295:Computational Biology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006526:Hepatitis C; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D060225:Tetraspanin 28 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C554798:CD81 protein, human; C554846:MIRN194 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate
keywords: CD81; EGCG; HCV entry; microRNAs