MicroRNA profiling of human primary macrophages exposed to dengue virus identifies miRNA-3614-5p as antiviral and regulator of ADAR1 expression.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017;
11:e0005981. [PMID:
29045406 PMCID:
PMC5662241 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0005981]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Due to the high burden of dengue disease worldwide, a better understanding of the interactions between dengue virus (DENV) and its human host cells is of the utmost importance. Although microRNAs modulate the outcome of several viral infections, their contribution to DENV replication is poorly understood.
Methods and principal findings
We investigated the microRNA expression profile of primary human macrophages challenged with DENV and deciphered the contribution of microRNAs to infection. To this end, human primary macrophages were challenged with GFP-expressing DENV and sorted to differentiate between truly infected cells (DENV-positive) and DENV-exposed but non-infected cells (DENV-negative cells). The miRNAome was determined by small RNA-Seq analysis and the effect of differentially expressed microRNAs on DENV yield was examined. Five microRNAs were differentially expressed in human macrophages challenged with DENV. Of these, miR-3614-5p was found upregulated in DENV-negative cells and its overexpression reduced DENV infectivity. The cellular targets of miR-3614-5p were identified by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and western blot. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) was identified as one of the targets of miR-3614-5p and was shown to promote DENV infectivity at early time points post-infection.
Conclusion/Significance
Overall, miRNAs appear to play a limited role in DENV replication in primary human macrophages. The miRNAs that were found upregulated in DENV-infected cells did not control the production of infectious virus particles. On the other hand, miR-3614-5p, which was upregulated in DENV-negative macrophages, reduced DENV infectivity and regulated ADAR1 expression, a protein that facilitates viral replication.
Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide and it is an increasing global concern for public health as its etiological agent, dengue virus (DENV), keeps spreading around the globe. Currently there are no specific antiviral therapies available to treat the disease. Macrophages are important target cells during natural DENV infection of humans. Here, we unraveled the importance of miRNAs in DENV replication in human primary macrophages. The expression profile of miRNAs was determined in truly DENV-infected cells and cells that were exposed but not productively infected by the virus by RNA sequencing. We revealed that only five miRNAs are regulated in primary macrophages challenged with DENV. These results show that miRNAs do not play a major role in DENV replication. Unexpectedly, we did identify a miRNA with moderate yet significant antiviral properties to DENV. Moreover, miRNA-3614-5p was found to not only decrease DENV but also West Nile virus infectivity. Mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analysis identified adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) as one of the targets. Moreover, ADAR1 was observed to promote the early stages of DENV replication. Collectively, our study broadens the knowledge of the contribution of human miRNAs in shaping the network of interactions between DENV and its human host cells.
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