title: Viral MicroRNAs Identified in Human Dental Pulp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs (miRs) are a family of noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression. They are ubiquitous among multicellular eukaryotes and are also encoded by some viruses. Upon infection, viral miRs (vmiRs) can potentially target gene expression in the host and alter the immune response. Although prior studies have reported viral infections in human pulp, the role of vmiRs in pulpal disease is yet to be explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of vmiRs in normal and diseased pulps and to identify potential target genes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total RNA was extracted and quantified from normal and inflamed human pulps (N = 28). Expression profiles of vmiRs were then interrogated using miRNA microarrays (V3) and the miRNA Complete Labeling and Hyb Kit (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA). To identify vmiRs that were differentially expressed, we applied a permutation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 12 vmiRs detected in the pulp, 4 vmiRs (including those from herpesvirus and human cytomegalovirus) were differentially expressed in inflamed pulp compared with normal pulp (P < .05). Using bioinformatics, we identified potential target genes for the differentially expressed vmiRs. They included key mediators involved in the detection of microbial ligands, chemotaxis, proteolysis, cytokines, and signal transduction molecules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that miRs may play a role in interspecies regulation of pulpal health and disease. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which vmiRs can potentially modulate the host response in pulpal disease.
authors.affiliation: Endodontic Associates, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Department of Endodontics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Afsar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bair
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nares
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Electronic address: Asma_Khan@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Asma A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Dental pulp; human; inflammation; microRNA; viral