| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 21~25-nucleotides (nt) long and interact with mRNAs to trigger either translational repression or RNA cleavage through RNA interference (RNAi), depending on the degree of complementarity with the target mRNAs. Our recent study has shown that HIV-1 <it>nef </it>dsRNA from AIDS patients who are long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) inhibited the transcription of HIV-1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we show the possibility that <it>nef</it>-derived miRNAs are produced in HIV-1 persistently infected cells. Furthermore, <it>nef </it>short hairpin RNA (shRNA) that corresponded to a predicted <it>nef </it>miRNA (~25 nt, miR-N367) can block HIV-1 Nef expression <it>in vitro </it>and the suppression by shRNA/miR-N367 would be related with low viremia in an LTNP (15-2-2). In the 15-2-2 model mice, the weight loss, which may be rendered by <it>nef </it>was also inhibited by shRNA/miR-N367 corresponding to suppression of <it>nef </it>expression <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data suggest that <it>nef</it>/U3 miRNAs produced in HIV-1-infected cells may suppress both Nef function and HIV-1 virulence through the RNAi pathway.</p>
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