Commentary
How HTLV-1 may subvert miRNAs for persistence and transformation
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* Corresponding author: Luc Willems willems.l@fsagx.ac.be
1 Molecular and Cellular Biology lab of the Gembloux Agricultural University (FUSAG)n°13, avenue Maréchal Juin, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
2 Molecular and Cellular Epigenetics, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA) of University of Liège (ULg) avenue de l'Hôpital n° B34, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Retrovirology 2008, 5:101 doi:10.1186/1742-4690-5-101
Published: 12 November 2008Abstract
Distinct mechanisms are used by viruses to interact with cellular miRNAs. The role of microRNAs in viral replication and persistence ranges from viral-encoded microRNAs to suppressors of RNA interference. Viruses can also exploit cellular miRNAs for influencing cellular metabolism to ensure efficient replication or latency. In particular, two recent studies provide examples of how HTLV-1 may co-opt or subvert cellular miRNAs for persistent replication and oncogenic purposes. The pathways modulated by these described miRNAs are critically involved in apoptosis, proliferation and innate immune response.